Tourists are seated at beachside cafes, the roar of jet skis and boats can be heard from the water and joyful squeals of children enjoying carnival rides in the park fill the air.

Laura Moran is watching her young son in the rock pools water play area at the Broadwater Parklands.

Her husband walks over to a nearby cafe to order the family some fish and chips.

Ms Moran’s son is obsessed with helicopters and starts pointing them out in the sky.

The young Logan mum plays along, watching the aircraft flying above the sparkling ocean.

Her eyes wander a little before a loud, bellowing “whoosh” reverberates throughout the park.

Something in her peripheral vision catches her attention.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast visitor Tor Kumpel and his wife are swimming at the nearby Broadwater estuary.

The couple from Cornubia were meant to meet up with friends in Surfers Paradise, but the heavy traffic in the tourist hub led them to the somewhat calmer waters of Southport.

As they cool off in the shallows, Mr Kumpel is distracted by something in the distance.

Turning to his wife, he utters “They’re gonna---”.

On the other side of the Broadwater, holiday-maker Amii McDermott is standing in line at the Vortex ride at Sea World theme park, Main Beach.

It’s just before 2pm on the last day of her family holiday and the popular attraction is packed with tourists.

The Blue Mountains resident is enjoying the afternoon with her older children and toddlers when a commotion in the air cuts through the screams of thrill-seekers.

A short time later, while watching emergency services rush by, she hears one of the workers yell: “Get as many defibs as you can”.

These three strangers now understand they are watching a serious accident unfold.

But it would be hours later, as details about the sheer scale of the emergency trickle through, that they come to a horrible realisation.

They have witnessed one of the worst disasters in Gold Coast’s history.

An invisible string - one of grief and sorrow and shock - now connects these three strangers to hundreds of others that day who also watched the catastrophe unfold.

It too intertwines the dozens who rushed to the scene of twisted metal, sand and saltwater to help the injured and dying.

And this invisible string weaves together thousands more - family and friends of the injured and those who lost their lives that day on that Broadwater sandbank.

‘Everything went silent’

Still in the water, Mr Kumpel’s words are cut off when two helicopters collide mid-air.

“I could see two helicopters. One was coming up and the other one was coming down and the rotor collected the one coming down,” he says.

Mr Kumpel sees one of the choppers plummet to the ground while the other manages to “somehow” steady and lands.

“It was only one helicopter that crashed. It was horrific to see,” he says.

“The (pilot) who was in the other one landed that. They deserve a medal. It took a bit to steady but they did it.”

Ms Moran is watching the collision from the rock pools.

Everyone briefly stands still before rushing to the edge of the water park, where they see one of the helicopters fall to the sand below.

“We could see the jet skis shooting out and people running across the beach front to get to (the people in the helicopter),” Ms Moran says.

“The lady who was next to me with her children, we held hands for a little bit, watching in silence.

“Everyone stopped, everything went silent and all you could hear was the trickling of the water in rock pools behind us.”

Those in the nearby cafe stop too, before running down to the water’s edge.

In the days following the crash, several tales of bravery would emerge.

Sea World Helicopters pilot, Michael James, 52, is being hailed a hero for saving all five passengers in his aircraft.

Despite the front section of his heli being torn off on impact, Mr James somehow manages to land it on a nearby sandbank. It is later marvelled at by experts - one says he’s “astonished he landed it” and another calls it an “extraordinary feat of airmanship”.

After the crash, the bloodied and dazed pilot is seen trying to help other survivors.

Gold Coast boatie Travis Slatter is fishing 100m away from the crash site.

He and other first responders rush to the scene to help the injured and provide comfort while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Four people from the other chopper that plummeted to the sand lose their lives.

They are Sea World Helicopters pilot Ashley Jenkinson, Diane Hughes, 57, Ron Hughes, 65 and Vanessa Tadros, 36.

Mr Jenkinson, known as ‘Jenko’, leaves behind a partner and baby son.

The man dubbed by friends and colleagues as “legend” and “expert” pilot is being remembered for his selfless efforts in helping NSW flood victims last year.

Mr Hughes, a respected businessman from the Liverpool area of Britain, was on holidays with the love of his life, Diane.

They had married in August 2021.

Their families on the Gold Coast and in the UK are mourning their loss.

Mr Hughes’ son-in-law Ben Manns operates Sea World Cruises. A statement, on behalf of the family, reads: “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.”

Sydney events planner Vanessa Tadros is being remembered as a “beautiful” wife and mother.

Her 10-year-old son Nicholas was critically injured in the crash.

Geelong mum Winnie De Silva, 33, and her son Leon, 9, were also badly injured in the crash. Leon awoke from his coma on Thursday in Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and at deadline was listed as “stable”. Nicholas remained on life support still in a critical condition. His father Simon said on Thursday: “He’s not good. I’m not in a good head space at all.”

Healing from heartbreak

Days on, the Gold Coast remains in a collective state of mourning.

A public memorial organised by the city council continues to grow in flowers and tributes near the Southport pier after wreaths laid by acting Mayor Donna Gates, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll and Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

“Queensland has seen so much tragedy lately,” Mr Miles reflects when at the scene on Tuesday. “There are people who have been directly impacted who are experiencing so much pain and members of the public who witnessed the incident will also be affected. It’s time for us to do what Queenslanders do best and that’s to support each other, to help each other.”

A community event is being organised to show support for the victims and those affected, as well as acknowledge the immense emotional impact of the tragedy.

Event organiser Chantal Clarke believes it will go some way towards helping the community heal.

“This tragedy has happened to people who were trying to live their best holiday,” Ms Clarke says.

“We all have a role as residents in providing a dream holiday for visitors who come here.

“Apart from showing collective support and acknowledging the trauma and the grief that we’re all feeling, I think it’s showing that the Gold Coast has heart.

“We care about those people who come here and provide us with jobs by having their holiday here.”

The Sea World helicopter tragedy human chain event will be held Sunday, January 15 from 2pm at the Broadwater Parklands foreshore.

The public is invited to form a human chain of linked arms and hands.

Representatives from the Kombumerri and Yugambeh people will open the event and acknowledge “the pain that the land will now carry” and call for healing.

Attendees are invited to donate a gold coin to assist the families of the victims.

Clinical psychologist Kamal Dhaliwal, from PRA Psychology, says community vigils can be a good way for people to “share grief”.

“Obviously we don’t want these things to happen, but when a tragedy such as this occurs, the community tends to pull together,” Dr Dhaliwal says.

“People gain a lot of support from each other.”

He says the trauma the community is experiencing is varied, depending on the level of exposure to the disaster.

This includes first responders, victims, witnesses and the general community.

Dr Dhaliwal says the psychological response to trauma could manifest as flashbacks, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, mood changes and irritability.

He urges anyone experiencing these responses for longer than a month to seek professional help.

Dr Dhaliwal says parents should have an open and honest conversation with their children if they ask about the tragedy.

“Acceptance of what’s happened and support for those who were involved - those things are going to be really important.”