Last photo ... seaplane pilot Gareth Morgan pictured in cockpit hours before doomed flight
THIS is believed to be the last picture of seaplane pilot Gareth Morgan, taken by a British tourist just hours before his plane nose-dived into the Hawkesbury River, killing UK multi-millionaire Richard Cousins and his family on New Year’s Eve.
NSW
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THIS is believed to be the last picture of seaplane pilot Gareth Morgan, taken by a British tourist just hours before his plane nose-dived into the Hawkesbury River, killing UK multi-millionaire Richard Cousins and his family on New Year’s Eve.
Just hours before the doomed flight, the experienced pilot had taken a mother-of-two on a similar tour of Sydney Harbour in the same seven-seater aircraft that ditched into the water, killing Mr Cousins’ new fiancee Emma Bowden, her daughter Heather, 11, and Mr Cousins’ sons William, 25, and Edward, 23.
The 47-year-old, who did not want to be named, told the UK Sun she was horrified to realise she had been in the doomed plane just hours before the tragedy.
She said: “I sat at the front next to Gareth and was chatting to him the whole time, so it really does bring it home to you how close it could have been. It really could have been us.”
WEDDING INVITES SENT DAYS BEFORE TRAGEDY
She added: “I don’t know how it can have happened because the whole time we were flying with Gareth his ability was clear — he was obviously skilled, he was giving us lots of information about where we were and kept us well-informed.
“For this family it was supposed to be a fun day and the build-up to a massive new year’s eve celebration in the evening, but instead it turned into a tragedy.
“We had such a fantastic experience and to hear people just after us had that same experience and died at the end of it is beyond comprehension.”
NOSEDIVE SEALED FATES OF ALL SIX ON SEAPLANE
SEAPLANE SALVAGE COULD TAKE DAYS
The mum said she had been comfortable throughout the scenic tour, saying they hadn’t even experienced a bump on their 11am Sydney Seaplanes flight.
The Canadian pilot has been remembered as a “humble man” who “always had a smile and a kind word for whoever he interacted with”.
Sydney Seaplanes said the pilot was experienced, having flown more than 10,000 hours in the air, including 9000 hours in a seaplane.
Sydney couple Michele Molnar, 50, and husband Rob, 55, also enjoyed a trip with Sydney Seaplanes and believe they saw tragic Mr Cousins and his family on the jetty before they left.
Rob said they had been on the jetty with the family involved in the devastating crash, with Rob saying: “He looked distinguished and he had a beautiful big camera around his neck and was obviously really excited about what was ahead of him.
“It’s a real shame that it’s been tainted by all this and just so sad for the family. Our hearts go out to them.”