Whitsunday helicopter crash victims were ‘madly in love’

THE two American tourists killed in Wednesday’s nightmare helicopter crash in the Whitsundays were on the “trip of a lifetime” to celebrate their recent marriage when disaster struck.

Heart Reef on the Great Barrier Reef.

• Whitsundays chopper crash site vision revealed
• Once in a lifetime experience ends in tragedy

THEY were on an idyllic honeymoon and madly in love.

Pete and Sue Hensel had always dreamt of holidaying in the Whitsundays and seeing the Great Barrier Reef.

But with just minutes remaining of their scenic helicopter ride over Hardy Reef on Wednesday, the Hawaiian couple – who friends said were “just perfect for each other” – plunged into the turquoise waters off Hamilton Island, killing them both.

Heroic onlookers pulled them from the wreckage of the Airbus H120 and frantically performed CPR for more than 90 minutes, but they could not be saved.

Pete and Sue Hensel were on their honeymoon when their helicopter joy ride crashed, killing them both.

Pete, 79, asked Sue, 65, to marry after the couple found love later in life.

They married in December but friends said they had long been planning “their trip of a lifetime”.

The couple left the Hawaiian town of Kona earlier this month bound for Australia and the Reef.

With them were believed to be Sue’s daughter, 33, and her partner, a man aged 34.

Sue’s daughter and son-in-law survived the crash, as did the 35-year-old pilot who works for Whitsunday Air Services.

The location of the chopper crash at Hardy Reef north of the Whitsundays.

Pete’s friend of 25 years, Vern Ungerecht, told The Courier-Mail last night that the couple shared “a beautiful story”. “They were so happy.

Both of them had been single forever, so when they got together they had never been so happy,” Mr Ungerecht said from his home in Hawaii.

“We used to have drinks with them at the bar almost every day. Pete doesn’t say much, but Sue, she was always chatting and smiling.”

The couple’s Whitsundays honeymoon was the trip of a lifetime and something they had been planning “forever”, Mr Ungerecht said. “For them to go doing something they had looked forward to for so long, we can take some pleasure in that,” he said.

Pete was retired, while Sue had worked for a bookkeeping service.

Friend Ron Coleman said their love was always evident.

“They just got closer and closer and finally got married,” he said. “It’s been a real shock to us, oh my God, they were a fixture, you’d go in there and they’d be there. Now they won’t be there anymore.”

The Airbus H120 helicopter that crashed, killing Sue and Pete Hensel.

Meanwhile, the onlookers who desperately tried to save the couple’s lives have been hailed as heroes by police.

Early investigations show the pilot pulled Sue from the front seat of the helicopter.

Mackay District Inspector Ian Haughton hailed the efforts of those who tried to save the couple.

“No one gave up. They just kept going,” he said.

“To do CPR for that length of time takes a toll physically. It’s an exceptionally long time. It shows great community spirit, that people are willing to do what they did.”

The police boat returns to Hamilton Island from the crash site at Hardy Reef on the Great Barrier Reef.

Police were yesterday still to interview everyone involved in the ordeal, with some too shaken to speak.

The investigation will centre on whether human error, mechanical failure or weather contributed to the crash.

Helicopter service chief executive Brad Graves said operations were now suspended. “At this early stage, we are unaware of how the accident occurred, however we are providing the authorities with all of the relevant information to assist with answering their inquiries,” he said.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said a preliminary report was expected to be released in late April.