Helicopters crash: UK couple Ron and Diane Hughes were visiting owners of Sea World Cruises

The UK couple killed in the Sea World Helicopters disaster have a close Gold Coast family connection. The family has shared their final holiday snaps - and their grief.

THE devastated family of English tourists Ron and Diane Hughes have shared a scrapbook of the happy couple enjoying their Gold Coast holiday in the days before their deaths.

The couple - who had married in late 2021 and are among the four who died on Monday in the Sea World Helicopters collision - have family connections to a Sea World-branded company operating cruises.

They were enjoying a long-delayed holiday at the time with their Australian relatives - Gold Coast based family Ben and Jane Manns and their three children - after two years of Covid-induced separation.

Mr Manns is co-director of SWCruiseco, the company behind Sea World Cruises.

The Manns family co-owns and directs the company with Sea World Whale Watching director Anthony Ardern.

Mr Manns is also the managing director of Surfers Paradise-based tour operator Experience Oz.

Photos the family shared with the Bulletin on Thursday show some of the highlights of the Hughes’ Gold Coast visit including lunch at one of the city’s surf lifesaving clubs and a sunset boat trip on the Nerang River on New Year’s Eve.

Ron and Diane Hughes cruising the Nerang River on December 31, 2022. Picture: Supplied by the family of Ron and Diane Hughes.

The couple can be seen enjoying drinks and posing for photos in front of the Surfers Paradise skyline.

They had arrived in Australia just a week earlier for what was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.

The Hughes family, in a statement to the Bulletin on Thursday, thanked the Gold Coast community for their kindness and condolences as they struggle to cope with their loss.

“They were the most generous, loyal, fun-loving couple who had a zest for life and were loved and adored by everyone they met,” the Hughes family statement reads.

Ron and Diane Hughes were on the Gold Coast visiting family – Ben and Jane Manns and their three children. Picture: Supplied by the family of Ron and Diane Hughes.

“Tragedies like this happen to ‘other people’ and we are all struggling to come to terms with our loss.

“They leave a huge hole in our family and will be survived by parents, brothers, sons, daughters, and their cheeky grandkids.”

Ron and Diane Hughes were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in collided with another from the same company less than 20 seconds after takeoff about 2pm on Monday.

It plummeted to the ground. Their pilot, Ash Jenkinson and fellow passenger Vanessa Tadros also died.

Ron and Diane Hughes pictured on their Gold Coast holiday. The English couple died in the Sea World Helicopters collision on January 2, 2023. Picture: Supplied by the family of Ron and Diane Hughes.

The couple were from Neston, Cheshire, a small village just outside Liverpool in northwest England.

The Hughes extended family paid tribute to emergency service workers and all those who tried to save the couple during the tragedy.

“On behalf of our Australian and UK family, we would like to thank all the first responders, emergency services and Sea World staff for their heroics in trying to save our loved ones,” the statement reads.

Ron and Diane Hughes pictured in the UK. Picture: Supplied by the family of Ron and Diane Hughes.

“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and we pray for the recovery of survivors still in hospital.

“Finally, the outpouring of love from our friends, family and the Gold Coast community has touched us all and will never be forgotten.”

Ron and Diane Hughes pictured on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied by the family of Ron and Diane Hughes.

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