‘Tragic accident’: Malcolm Turnbull’s message to families of Hawkesbury River sea plane crash

MALCOLM Turnbull became emotional as he talked about the Hawkesbury River seaplane crash, after his own father died in a light plane crash.

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has offered his sympathies to the families of the victims of the Hawkesbury River seaplane crash, saying his own father died in a light plane crash.

Mr Turnbull said it was a “tragic accident”.

“Our hearts go out to the families whose lives were lost in this accident,” he said.

“My dad was killed in a light plane accident, not a seaplane, and these are tragic circumstances.

“We grieve for those who lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families as they come to terms with this terrible loss.”

A British man and his 11 year-old daughter were among those killed in the plane crash.

A joint investigation between the NSW Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau into the crash is underway.

Mr Turnbull’s father Bruce was killed, along with three other people, in 1982 at the age of 56 when a single engine Piper Warrior crashed near Gloucester.

MORE: The victims of the seaplane tragedy revealed

Six people have died in the tragic sea plane crash at Hawkesbury River. Picture: AAP

The Prime Minister was overcome by emotion today when he spoke of his father.

He recalled the moment his dad had rescued him from rough waves at Bondi as a boy while speaking at a press conference at the popular beach announcing $3 million more funding for Australian surf life savers.

“I’ve spent much of my young life on this beach,” Mr Turnbull said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club where he got emotional. Picture: AAP

“It’s a safe beach I would say compared to many others but you can get into plenty of trouble here at Bondi.

“I remember as a kid out just off Ben Buckler here falling off my surfer plane and I was in plenty of trouble and I can still see — it’s ah, hard to talk about this without being a bit emotional — but I can still see my father swimming through the surf, swimming through, and he got me and that’s what life safers do.”

A young Malcolm Turnbull with father Bruce Turnbull at Sydney University for his graduation in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Law.

An 11-year-old girl was among those on board the sea plane which crashed into Jerusalem Bay, 40km north of Sydney’s CBD, shortly after take off.

Four of the passengers have been confirmed as British nationals.

Originally published as ‘Tragic accident’: Malcolm Turnbull’s message to families of Hawkesbury River sea plane crash