Sea World helicopter crash: Two boys fight for life as tributes flow for four people killed

Two boys involved in the Sea World helicopter crash were clinging to life last night, the father of one recounting his horror as he watched the deadly collision unfold. It comes as tributes flow for the four adults who died in the tragedy.

Two boys involved in the Sea World helicopter crash were clinging to life as tributes flowed for the four adults who died in the tragedy.

Nicholas Tadros, 10, of Sydney, and Leon de Silva, 9, of Geelong, were both in a critical condition in different southeast Queensland hospitals on Tuesday.

Nicholas’s mother, Vanessa, 36, was among those killed while Leon’s mum Winnie, 33, was critically injured.

Also killed were British tourists Ron Hughes, 65, and his wife Dianne, 57, along with pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40.

Mrs de Silva’s husband, Neil, witnessed the horror crash from the ground after buying the “dream” joy flight for his wife and stepson.

Winnie De Silva was critically injured in Monday’s crash. Source: GoFundMe page

He said he “just went numb” and his wife’s life “flashed before her eyes” as he saw the choppers collide.

“It was Winnie’s dream to take Leon on a helicopter,” Mr de Silva said. “I thought I would shout them a 10-minute flight.

“We were on a budget holiday, trying to save money but I wanted them to have that experience.”

Mr de Silva said he was in disbelief when he saw the helicopters crash.

“Winnie and Leon’s helicopter took off, it only went about 200m in the air,” he said.

“I could see the other helicopter that was due to land … it looked like they were going to crash into one another.

“As it got closer, I was thinking ‘this is crazy, this looks really bad’ and I just went numb.”

Mr de Silva said he waited two hours to find out that his wife and stepson miraculously survived the crash.

“I feared the worst … I was praying,” he said.

Leon de Silva remains in hospital. Picture: Supplied

“That’s the sort of thing where you expect people to die but I was trying to be as positive as I could.”

Mrs de Silva, who was sitting behind Mr Jenkinson in the helicopter next to her son, was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital where she remains in a critical but stable condition.

She has two broken legs, a damaged left knee, a broken right shoulder and a broken collarbone.

Leon was flown to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane where he remains in a coma in a critical condition.

He has facial and head injuries, a cracked skull and severe trauma to the brain.

“The hospital rang me early this morning to say the left side wasn’t responding how they liked,” said Mr de Silva, who has launched a GoFundMe appeal so he can support his family.

“They asked my permission to drill a hole into the right side of his skull to attach a device to monitor his brain pressure.

“Winnie is very worried about him; we all are.”

Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, who was killed in the helicopter collision. Picture: Supplied

Mr de Silva said his wife, a social worker, thought she was going to die.

“She said to me a couple of times that her life flashed before her eyes,” he said.

“She closed her eyes and feared for their lives.”

Nicholas Tadros, from Glenmore Park in Sydney’s west, remained in a critical condition in Gold Coast University Hospital.

Relatives told The Courier-Mail that he was undergoing his fourth surgery since the accident on Tuesday morning.

They said the family travelled from Sydney to be by his side.

A cousin posted a tribute to Mrs Tadros, also known as Vanessa Geagea, to social media.

“R.I.P. cousin Vanessa Geagea. You passed away too soon in this horrific tragedy,” she said.

“May God have mercy on you, Vanessa, yourself in heaven, and may God heal your son, O Lord, and grant him peace.”

Mr and Mrs Hughes, who only married last year, were on the Gold Coast from Liverpool, visiting relatives who are part-owners of Sea World Cruises.

British couple Diane and Ron Hughes were visiting relatives on the Gold Coast. Picture supplied.

Friends shared their grief on social media, saying their hearts were “broken”.

“Absolutely lost for words, heartbroken,” one friend posted.

Mr Jenkinson’s former partner made an emotional tribute to her ex, fondly recalling how he once flew her to the Sunshine Coast on a snap date.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Gold Coast yoga teacher Linda Doktar said she was “in disbelief, devastated (and) shattered” at his death.

“Thankyou for blessing my life with your presence as my partner (in) 2016-17,” she wrote, accompanied by pictures of her and Mr Jenkinson together including one in a helicopter.

“I will never forget the day you rang me to ask if I can be ready in 20 minutes as you would pick me up in your chopper and fly me to Sunshine Coast and back.”

Ms Doktar said Mr Jenkinson was the reason she relocated from Brisbane to the Gold Coast “and began a brand new life here”.

Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40

“Thankyou for showing me the way,” she posted. “And I am so proud of you for following your passion of flying helicopters.

“My heart goes out to your parents Bev and Al, to your partner Kosha and your baby, to your siblings, to all of your friends and the lives of the hearts you touched.

“To a well-respected and well-known Gold Coast pilot, son, father, partner and friend … you will be deeply missed. I love you.

“Rest in peace to the four souls who lost their human lives in this tragic accident,” she wrote.

Originally published as Sea World helicopter crash: Two boys fight for life as tributes flow for four people killed