Sea World helicopter collision: Four dead, two children fighting for life
Two children are fighting for life in hospital after Monday’s horrific chopper crash. It comes as crash investigators work determine the cause of the accident. LATEST DETAILS
Gold Coast
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TWO children are still fighting for life after Monday’s horror Sea World helicopter crash which left four dead and several seriously injured.
The pair of Sea World Helicopters collided in the air between 200 and 300m above a helipad over the Gold Coast Broadwater near the theme park about 2pm. It left a pilot – popular Gold Coaster and family man Ash Jenkinson – and three passengers from the one chopper dead.
Those three passengers have since been revealed as two British nationals and a woman from Glenmore Park in Sydney.
The three other passengers in that helicopter, a woman and two young boys, were rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Two were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.
Out of the two taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, a 10-year-old boy from Glenmore Park in Sydney, remains in a critical condition.
The 36-year-old Glenmore Park woman who died is believed to be his mother.
A 33-year-old woman from Geelong West in Victoria was also taken to Gold Coast University Hospital has had her condition reclassified as serious but stable.
The third, her nine-year-old son from Geelong West in Victoria, was taken by a RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
He remains in a critical condition.
The British nationals killed in the crash have been identified as a 57-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man. It is understood they were married.
The UK foreign office confirmed on Tuesday morning it was “supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities.”
A third victim has been identified as a 36-year-old Vanessa Tadros from Glenmore Park in New South Wales.
The pilot of the second helicopter, which had five passengers on board, managed to land on a sand bank in the middle of the Broadwater. Everyone aboard that helicopter survived.
The survivors include a 27-year-old woman from Western Australia and two families who were travelling from New Zealand, aged in their 40s.
Queensland Police have launched Operation Victor Sandlewood comprising Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch detectives and the Forensic Crash Unit to assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with investigations.
Crash investigators are yet to determine what caused the tragic mid-air helicopter collision.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said they had no preliminary theories about the cause of the crash.
“We have a reasonable understanding of what the helicopters were doing in those critical stages of flight (take off and landing),” he said.
“But exactly why this occurred, what the range of visibility for both the pilots was, what was happening inside the cabins at the time – they are the things that will help us piece together potentially what might have been a contributing factor here.
“But it’s still very early in the investigation to start speculating.”
Mr Mitchell said the ATSB would be looking at video taken by witnesses, CCTV from nearby buildings and recording devices within the helicopters.
He said they would also be examining the wreckage.
The pilot of the second helicopter is yet to speak with the ATSB as he is in hospital.
ATSB investigators removed any pieces of evidence considered perishable last night and were in the process of removing the remains of the helicopter from the sand bank.
Mr Mitchell said it was understood one helicopter was landing while the other was taking off when they collided.
One chopper’s main rotors collided with the other, resulting in a large amount of damage and causing its main rotors and gear box to fall off.
That meant the helicopter had no lift and fell out of the sky.
Mr Mitchell said it was “remarkable” the other helicopter was able to land safely on the sandbar despite “significant damage” to the front left hand section of the chopper.
“The presence of mind being able to land that helicopter, particularly considering the damage that we know has occurred on the front left hand side of the helicopter,” he said.
“It does appear to be a remarkable job to have got it down.”
It is understood both pilots were left handed and both would have been sitting on the left hand side of the chopper.
“I would say at this stage that we are very fortunate we are not standing here with far more deaths.”
Witnesses have described the “medal” worthy effort of that pilot to steady it after the collision and land it with a shattered windscreen.
One helicopter had just taken off while another was returning to the landing pad from a scenic flight over the Gold Coast Broadwater.
It is understood the Sea World Helicopters aircraft were operated by an external contractor called Professional Helicopter Services Group.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said 13 patients were assessed at the scene and urged people to avoid the area. Police closed off SeaWorld Drive to all traffic except emergency services for the afternoon.
Witness Emma Burch said: “From what we saw one was taking off, the other landing. They clipped each other.
“Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart.
“It’s just awful. Everyone is in shock.”
In a statement, Sea World Helicopters (SWH) – a separate company to Village Roadshow, the operator of nearby Sea World theme park – expressed its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
“We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased,” a spokesman said.
“We are co-operating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police. As it is now a police investigation we cannot provide any further information at this stage.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the incident was an “unthinkable tragedy”.
“My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident,” she said.
Gold Coast Acting Mayor Donna Gates said the public could lay flowers and pay their respects at a site at the nearby Broadwater Parklands.
“This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families, first responders and those who witnessed the accident,” Cr Gates said.
“I understand the helicopter service is not a Village Roadshow operation and is managed by an independent operator.
“On behalf of council, I will limit further comments out of respect to the families,” she said, adding the ATSB and Queensland Police would continue to publicly comment as information comes to light.
“I applaud all emergency services for their immediate response. It is now time for investigators to examine what caused this accident and I ask locals to stay away from the area which remains a key part of the investigation.”
Village Roadshow Theme Parks (VRTP) offered its deepest condolences to all those impacted, adding: “While Sea World Helicopters is an independent professional operator, VRTP is working with emergency services and the authorities to provide every possible assistance.
We are providing support to our team members who have been emotionally affected by the tragedy.”
Helicopter pilot Scott Menzies who was flying over the Broadwater at 2.15pm said the scene “didn’t look good.
“I don’t know what has happened but it doesn’t look good,” he told the Bulletin.
A number of boats and rescue helicopters, including a Volunteer Marine Rescue vessel, were seen rushing to the scene. QAS said multiple resources attended the site.
“Multiple QAS resources and other emergency services are on the scene of a major incident involving two helicopters at 1.59pm,” they said.
Other witnesses described a terrifying scene.
“Just witnessed two helicopters crash into each other at Sea World,” Dang Nguyen said.
Amii McDermott said the incident was “beyond horrible”.
Another person said their daughter witnessed what had happened.
“My daughter saw them,” they said. “People on both. Landed on the sand not in Sea World thank goodness. Just praying for all.”
Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport Duty skipper Matt Fitzpatrick confirmed VMR had sent three units to the scene.
Police Duty Officer from the southeastern region, Acting Inspector Gary Worrell, paid tribute to the boaties and other civilians who leapt into action to help.
“Emergency services and multiple members of the public attended the critical incident, those people were confronted with a significant (crash),” he said.
Jetskis, family boats, and ordinary members of the public rushed to provide basic life support and first aid.
CONTENT WARNING: Some viewers may find the following story disturbing.
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) January 2, 2023
At least four people have been killed and more are injured after two helicopters crashed this afternoon at Sea World on the Gold Coast. @JayneAzzo#9News
MORE: https://t.co/Bdwopv6j5rpic.twitter.com/n1o2hDVfvF
“I’d like to thank (everyone) that attended, it was a difficult scene with lots of moving parts.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen the images, but one airframe had the windscreen removed and landed safely on the island.
“The other airframe had crashed, it was upside down.”
Acting Insp Worrell said the crash site was “difficult” for emergency services to access. Boats were quickly set up to ferry first responders and victims of the crash across the water.
Those involved suffered a range of injuries, according to Queensland Ambulance senior operations supervisor Jayney Shearman.
“In the initial stages, there were 13 people identified on those two helicopters,” she said.
“There were three critical patients that were treated and there were six minor injuries. They were all transported to hospital.
“The minor injuries were mainly glass shrapnel that had come from the impact.”
There were “a number” of critical injuries too, with some suffering multisystem trauma: “Which means there was a lot of impact to the body”.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the ATSB had commenced an investigation into the fatal mid-air collision.
“Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB’s Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site from Monday afternoon,” he said.
“During the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site. Investigators will also recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra, gather any available recorded data for analysis, and interview witnesses and other involved parties.
“The ATSB asks anyone who may have seen the collision, or who witnessed the helicopters in any phase of their flights, or who may have footage of any kind, to make contact via witness@atsb.gov.au at their earliest opportunity. ”
Mr Mitchell said the ATSB would likely publish a preliminary report detailing basic information gathered during the investigation in about six to eight weeks.
“A final report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation, however, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken,” he said.
Queensland-based federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers offered his condolences.
“The Broadwater is usually such a welcoming place, full of fun and families, but this afternoon it was the scene of unthinkable horror and sadness,” he said.
“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this awful tragedy, and to grieving communities on the Gold Coast and beyond.”
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