Shocking video from inside one of the choppers before deadly impact
Shocking footage has emerged from inside one of the helicopters involved in Monday’s deadly crash, vision from a survivor showing desperate attempts to warn the pilot in the seconds before impact. Warning: Confronting
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A passenger tried to warn pilot Michael James seconds before the rotor of another helicopter smashed through the windscreen of his aircraft, shocking footage filmed inside the chopper has revealed.
The vision was shot inside the helicopter that managed to land on a sandbank on the Gold Coast Broadwater, with all people on-board surviving the collision.
The footage shows a passenger sitting behind the pilot pointing at something, before frantically tapping Mr James on the shoulder.
The footage from Channel 7 also shows the passenger who tried to warn the pilot gripping the back of Mr James’ seat, bracing for impact.
Seconds later the rotor of the helicopter being flown by Ash Jenkinson smashes through the windscreen, jolting the helicopter and showering passengers in glass.
It comes as four New Zealand tourists who miraculously survived the tragedy described the pilot who saved their lives as “our hero”.
Auckland friends Elmarie and Riaan Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart were holidaying together on the Gold Coast when they were caught up in the disaster.
Both couples were aboard the helicopter which crash landed on to a sandbank in the Southport Broadwater after colliding mid-air with another Sea World chopper.
Mrs Steenberg and Mrs Swart were still recovering in Gold Coast University Hospital on Wednesday. Their husbands have been discharged.
In a statement, they said 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 into the collision.
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