Geelong helicopter crash survivor Winnie de Silva expresses her gratitude

The Geelong West mother who survived the Gold Coast’s tragic helicopter crash said it is an “unthinkable and difficult time”.

Geelong residents Winnie de Silva (mother) and Leon de Silva (son) survived the Sea World helicopter crash. Picture: Supplied

A Geelong mum who survived a tragic Gold Coast helicopter crash expressed her gratitude to the community for their support.

In a statement, Winnie de Silva thanked people for their kind thoughts and healing prayers for herself and her nine-year-old son Leon.

“They are helping me stay positive that Leon and I will get through this,” she said.

“It is an unthinkable and difficult time for us all.”

Four people were killed in the crash after two Sea World helicopters collided flying over the Broadwater on Monday.

On Thursday, Leon miraculously woke from an induced coma after fighting for life for three days at the Queenland Children’s Hospital.

Geelong resident Leon de Silva was placed in an coma after surviving the Sea World helicopter crash. Picture: Supplied

Ms de Silva had a video call with her son from his hospital bed that day.

“He gave me a thumbs up and one of his big beautiful smiles”, she said.

“(On Friday) he spoke two words ‘my leg’ which gives me hope that he is getting stronger.”

Ms de Silva will undergo more surgery in the coming week and her focus is on getting better so she can be with her son and support his recovery.

Close friend of the de Silva family, Anne Mwangi, told the Geelong Advertiser it is a blessing that Leon is now breathing on his own.

“We are celebrating every little bit of good news,” she said.

Geelong’s Winnie de Silva and friend Anne Mwangi. Photo: Supplied.

Ms Mwangi, a leader of the Kenyan community in Geelong, said the entire city was “willing them to recovery”.

“It has been very difficult, Winnie and Leon are like family and are very close to me,” she said.

“Winnie is grateful for life and she just wants her son to get better.

“It has been really hard, we have been going through a process.

“There is denial, disbelief and just slowly processing it all and taking every little step at a time.”

Ms Mwangi said the tight-knit Kenyan community had been encouraged by their progress since the initial shock of the incident.

Originally published as Geelong helicopter crash survivor Winnie de Silva expresses her gratitude