Mum wrapping Christmas presents when told children had died
The mother of two children killed in a plane crash north of Brisbane on Sunday has shared her heartache, revealing her final words to them and that the flight was a surprise present for her son’s recent birthday.
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The mother of two children killed in a horrific plane crash has devastatingly revealed she was wrapping Christmas presents for them when police knocked to tell her about the tragedy.
Lucas Mocanu, 9, and his sister Lavinia, 10, their father Cris Mocanu, 41, and pilot Robert “Roy” Watterson, 67, were killed when the plane they were in crashed shortly after taking off at Redcliffe on Sunday.
Their distraught mother Catherine Di Blasio told The Courier-Mail the trip was a surprise for her son’s birthday and she wasn’t aware they would be going on a flight.
Mr Mocanu worked at Mr Watterson’s company and had asked him if he could take his children on a flight.
“He (Lucas) had a recent birthday in November and his dad told them that it’s a surprise, a present, but all he said it was an experience that you will love,” Ms Di Blasio said.
“Up to that morning the kids didn’t even know.”
Ms Di Blasio, who was separated from Mr Mocanu, said they were expected back at lunch but by 4pm began ringing his mobile phone which kept giving “out of service” responses.
“Then I thought they were ringing my doorbell but when I opened the door there was three child protection service detectives and they told me the bad news,” she said.
“Even the guy had trouble telling me, he didn’t know which words to use, it was pretty horrible.
“When they came to my house, the detectives, I was wrapping the kids’ Christmas presents.”
Ms Di Blasio said she took her children down to meet their father on Sunday morning which was the last time she saw them.
“I just told them ‘have fun guys, I love you’,” she said.
“My son turned around and said ‘love you too mum’ and they left.”
Devastated by what has unfolded Ms Di Blasio, who moved to Australia 14 years ago with
Mr Mocanu, said their families were planning to travel from Montreal in Canada to be by her side.
The devastated mother said she still couldn’t believe her children had died and was still in denial about losing them.
Paying tribute to them she said Lavinia, known as Lavi, was funny, caring, gentle, creative and loved music. They both attended St Elizabeth’s school in Tarragindi and were loved with lots of friends.
“Lavi would make you giggle until you had water in your eyes,” Ms Di Blasio said.
“A lot of people at her school just liked to hang out with her just because she was so funny, knew how to make everyone laugh.
“She was extremely creative, she had a creative mind. She could have easily gone into house design or anything that requires creative drawing, people were always amazed at how good she drew.”
Lucas loved cars, was competitive but had a beautiful soul and was polite.
“Lucas had just started drum lessons,” Ms Di Blasio said.
“He had did six lessons but the teacher was saying he is incredibly talented for the few little lessons he had done. I said maybe it runs in my family, my dad is a professional drummer.”
Lucas had a special soul that everyone noticed.
“People felt it,” Ms Di Blasio said.
“He is different. His soul, a lot of people have commented how special he was. He was very caring. Say he did a race at school and if a little boy had a fall he would stop and bend down and say ‘are you OK?’”
Ms Di Blasio said she had bought her daughter a pair of sneakers and clothes and her son some Pokemon cards and clothes for Christmas.
“They each wanted a gold chain so I had bought them one with my savings a couple of months ago and was looking forward to giving it to them,” she said.
“They had never had any gold in their lives and I thought they deserve it.”
Her children hadn’t seen family in Canada in four-and-a-half years and were planning to travel with her back there in the next year.
“They’re all devastated. Even Cristian, his family are in Canada. Some of our family are going to try to fly in to support me so my mum, and his mum and sister.”
Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are investigating the accident.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said early reports indicated the plane crashed “not long after take off”.
There were unconfirmed reports the plane’s engine stopped after take off but Mr Mitchell said it was “still very early to make that call”.
“They were just going to apparently have a little fly over the water and look at Brisbane from up in the air,” Ms Di Blasio said of the flight.
“The pilot, he was the owner of the company he (Cris) worked for.
“He told Cris ‘I do have a little plane’ and Cris said ‘do you mind if I take my kids, my son would really love it, can we organise a day?’
“It was meant to be another day but the weather wasn’t good, it was too windy.
“He was keeping it a surprise, for the kids, so he just didn’t tell anyone.”
An ATSB summary of the crash said the plane was “reported to be returning to the aerodrome” when it crashed into the sea.
“Shortly after taking off, the aircraft was reported to be returning to the aerodrome when it collided with water,” the summary read.
“The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.”
Friends and family of the pilot and passengers will not have a final report into the crash until at least June next year, but a preliminary report is expected to be completed in about eight weeks.
During the investigation, the evidence will be examined by aircraft maintenance and operation specialists.
“The evidence collection phase of the investigation will include examination of the accident site and wreckage by ATSB investigators with specialties in aircraft maintenance and operations,” the summary read.
“The ongoing investigation will collect and examine other relevant evidence, including recorded data, weather information, witness reports and pilot and maintenance records.”
The ATSB said if a critical safety issue is identified the Bureau would “immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken”.
Mr Watterson founded the Lincom Group which provides equipment to the mining and forestry industry. In a tribute to their “chairman, mentor and great colleague” he was remembered for his courage, determination and sense of humour.
“His career was fuelled with passion and integrity,” a tribute from Lincom said. “His charming personality and unique friendliness turned customers into good friends. His big heart was an inspiration for us all.”
“We all have different memories of Roy, but one thing they all have in common is his inspiring love for his family. He was always sharing family stories and was very proud of his children.”
Ms Di Blasio said she hoped her family would travel to Australia in the next fortnight.
“It’s going to be an emotional reunion,” she said.
“The kids in both families, my family and Cris’ family, they were the only kids, there is no other grandkids on either side.”
“There are talks about bringing them back to Canada, to Montreal, but we’re still in talks about it. It depends on how much it costs. We’d like to bring them back and bury them in Canada, where everyone has their families.”
*A GoFundMe has been set up to help Ms Di Blasio at https://www.gofundme.com/f/funerals-for-catherines-children-plane-crash
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