Haunting final photo of mum killed in Sea World helicopter crash as Leon de Silva wakes from coma
A haunting photo has emerged of a mother and son with their flight ticket just moments before the Sea World helicopter crash as the tragedy’s youngest victim wakes from a coma.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The youngest victim of the Sea World helicopter tragedy has woken from a coma as a haunting final photo of Vannessa Tadros and her son before the doomed joy flight emerges.
Leon de Silva, 9, suffered critical injuries when two helicopters collided on the Gold Coast on Monday, killing four people.
He has spent the last three days fighting for his life in hospital.
A hospital spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Leon had been taken off life support and was recovering at the Queensland Children's Hospital.
It can be revealed that Leon gave the thumbs up during a heartwarming video call to his mother Winnie, who has been treated in a Gold Coast hospital 70km away but has been desperate to see her son in intensive care in Brisbane.
Barwon Health nurse Anne Mwangi, a close family friend Winnie, said Leon was “breathing on his own” in intensive care before revealing details of the touching moment he video called his mother.
“He was able to give mum a big thumbs up when they spoke over a video call and that is just great news, it is a blessing,” Ms Mwangi said.
“Leon is getting there and at least he is breathing on his own now.
“We are celebrating every little bit of good news.”
Neil de Silva confirmed his stepson was in a stable condition.
“We’re just focusing on their recovery now,” he said.
His mother Winnie de Silva is still recovering at the Gold Coast University Hospital, also in a stable condition.
Ms De Silva and her son had been visiting the Gold Coast from Geelong in Victoria.
The other child involved in the crash, Nicholas Tadros, 10, is fighting desperately for life, with his father admitting his condition is “not good”.
Nicholas and his mother Vanessa had just began a joy ride in the Eurocopter 130 aircraft when it hit an identical chopper in mid-air, had its propellers ripped off and plummeted to the ground.
Simon Tadros didn’t join his wife and son on the joy flight and watched in horror from the shoreline as the incident unfolded.
The 36-year-old mum, helicopter pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, and British couple Ron, 65, and Dianne Hughes, 57, all died instantly in the crash.
Mrs Tadros’ son “Nicky” was pulled from the wreckage and taken to a Gold Coast hospital, and after several surgeries to stop the internal bleeding he was transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane on Wednesday, where his desperate fight for life continues.
“He’s not good, he’s on a life support machine in a critical condition,” his father Simon Tadros said.
“I’m not in a good headspace at all.”
The Tadros’ had been on the Gold Coast as part of a large family contingent to celebrate the New Year.
In the wake of the crash relatives have come together in both Sydney and interstate to support each other.
A cousin of the family said it was still hard to comprehend the devastation that had struck their loved ones and revealed a sliding doors moment was all that stopped more relatives boarding the helicopter with Mrs Tadros and her son.
“Some (relatives) wanted to go on the flight, but others didn’t (go) because it’s a massive wait for just a 10 minute flight,” he said.
“Accidents happen all the time … we don’t expect it but it can happen.
“The saddest part of it all is that the family had to witness all of it, there’s a lot of them up there together.
“There are more of us are on the Gold Coast and we’ve also got family overseas who need to be kept in the loop. It’s a tragedy.”
A cousin of Vanessa Tadros’ said they prayed for Nicholas.
“The surgery went well and the bleeding stopped,” she said.
“His state is still critical but I guess better. He’s strong enough and being a kid, his ability and chance to heal is higher.”
As Mr Tadros understandably struggles to balance his emotions between coming to terms with the loss of his wife and being there for his son as he fights for life, he took the incredible step of making contact with the clients of his wife’s event planning business – many of who had booked her for upcoming weddings – to assure them they would be getting their money back.
But Mr Tadros said sadly, there was no way the Veevee Creations brand his wife had successfully built up, could continue to operate.
“Vanessa was one of the victims in the Sea World helicopter crash that happened on the Gold Coast,” he wrote.
“As a result, Veevee Creations will be closing down. I will be going through Vanessa’s records to see which events have to be refunded or cancelled. I’m sorry to anyone that this has inconvenienced.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser to support him as he buries his wife and cares for his son has raised $15,000.
Family friend Rochelle Fajloun organised the fundraising effort and revealed Mr Tadros witnessed the incident.
“Simon distressingly witnessed the accident unfold and is totally shattered,” Ms Fajloun wrote.
“With all of the emotional pain that death brings, it can also bring significant financial burden. Any donations that can help the family during this difficult period will be most appreciated.”
UK newlyweds, Ron and Diane Hughes, were on a holiday visiting family when they were killed in the helicopter crash.
The couple had made the trip to visit Ron’s daughter, Jane Manns, her husband and their children.
The Manns said they were devastated by their deaths.
“Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know,” Jane and Ben Manns said in a statement.
“Please respect our privacy at this devastating time.”
The couple, married in 2021, had arrived in Australia last week to visit family on the Gold Coast they hadn’t seen in years.
Photos from their last days show them enjoying lunch with family by the beach, smiling in front of the Gold Coast skyline and enjoying a night on a boat with loved ones.
In a statement, the family said they were struggling to come to terms with the loss.
“They were the most generous, loyal, fun-loving couple who had a zest for life and were loved and adored by everyone they met,” the statement said.
“Tragedies like this happen to ‘other people’ and we are all struggling to come to terms with our loss.
“They leave a huge hole in our family and will be survived by parents, brothers, sons, daughters, and their cheeky grandkids.
“On behalf of our Australian & UK family, we would like to thank all the first responders, emergency services and Sea World staff for their heroics in trying to save our loved ones.
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and we pray for the recovery of survivors still in hospital.
“Finally, the outpouring of love from our friends, family and the Gold Coast community has touched us all and will never be forgotten.”
Loved ones are expected to arrive in Australia from the UK in the coming days.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) worked to gather evidence from the water on Wednesday as it leads the investigation into exactly what caused the crash.
Meanwhile, one of the lucky survivors of the Sea World helicopter disaster has spoken from her hospital bed, saying: “Thank you to God for sparing all of us.”
Elmarie Steenberg was one of four New Zealand tourists who miraculously escaped Monday’s crash which killed four others.
She and husband Riaan and friends Marle and Edward Swart were aboard the helicopter which crash landed onto a sandbank in the Southport Broadwater after colliding mid-air with another Sea World chopper.
Mrs Steenberg and Mrs Swart were still recovering in Robina Hospital on Wednesday. Their husbands have both been discharged.
In a Facebook post overnight, Mrs Steenberg – an Auckland real estate agent – reassured followers that she was recovering.
“To all my clients, friends and family,” she wrote.
“Yes, we were in the helicopter crash, I am still in hospital in the Gold coast, recovering from my injuries.
“All I can say thank you to God for sparing all of us. Thank you for all your messages. I will reply in due course. love you all.”
The two couples, who were enjoying a dream holiday together on the Gold Coast before they were caught up in the disaster, had earlier released a statement saying they were “completely devastated by the horrific helicopter accident after a fun 5-minute joy ride on vacation to Australia turned into a nightmare”.
“Our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the injured and the deceased and their families,” they said.
“We are grateful and blessed to have been spared but very sad for the people who lost loved ones and the little ones and mum fighting for their lives in hospital. Our hearts are so heavy for them.
“Our gratitude goes out to every bystander who ran to help, every police officer and emergency services personnel who helped us with our immediate needs keeping us calm and making us comfortable.
“We saw mateship in action. Australians come together to help in time of need.
We would like to extend our great thanks to the hospital staff taking care of us for their kindness and compassion during this traumatic experience.
“To our pilot (Michael James) who, through all the chaos, landed the helicopter safely, keeping us and other bystanders safe. You are our hero. Thank you so very much.”
The Steenbergs and Swart said they were assisting the Australian Transport Safety Board and police with their investigations.
“We will share more when we are ready,” they said.
“However, as we are coming to grips with what has happened and the resultant impact on our lives, we ask that our need for privacy be respected at this time.”
Mrs Steenberg’s post was met with hundreds of comments from wellwishers, many in Afrikaans from friends in her native South Africa.
More Coverage
‘F*** tha police’: Labor candidate’s posts come back to haunt her
Labor’s candidate in a marginal seat has been forced to apologise after her old social media posts criticising police emerged.
6.7l of oil, a $13.20 charge and BMW driver’s tribunal claim
A man who accused a BMW mechanic of overfilling the engine oil when servicing his car has lost his legal case against the dealership.