Father’s scream after son lost in Hamilton Island rescue helicopter disaster

In a quiet seaside Brisbane suburb, Jan and her husband Terry were told their son was missing. What unfolded was the darkest day in RACQ CQ Rescue’s history.

A father’s guttural scream of anguish is a sound Jan Eva never wants to hear again.

A police officer had not long knocked on their door.

In the quiet seaside Brisbane suburb of Redlands in the early hours of October 18, 2003, Jan and her husband Terry were told their son and middle child of three, helicopter crewman Stewart Eva, was missing.

He along with ambulance paramedic Craig Liddington and pilot Andrew Carpenter, were on-board a Bell 407 helicopter for a routine medevac mission to Hamilton Island when disaster struck.

Ten minutes into the flight, the single-engine RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter plunged into the sea off Cape Hillsborough with no warning or mayday calls received from the crew.

One of RACQ CQ Rescue's Bell 407 choppers crashed into waters off Cape Hillsborough on October 18, 2003. Picture: Supplied by RACQ CQ Rescue

Only two of their bodies would ever be found.

But the three men, all aged 31 when they died, will never be forgotten as their family members make the pilgrimage each year to honour where their sons perished on that dark night.

Mrs Eva said for three days she held out hope Stewart was alive.

Helicopter crewman Stewart Eva.

The Australian Army veteran had flown in East Timor and the Solomon Islands, and had trained for scenarios involving a Black Hawk helicopter crash-landing into water.

But 20 years on, she said it still felt like yesterday that her son’s body was found still strapped to the wreckage.

Stewart left behind an eight-year-old son, Nicholas, who would grow up learning about his heroic father, nicknamed “Whippet”, through a bounty of anecdotes and memories revealing his dad’s spirit, kindness, and larrikinism.

Jan and Terry Eva, parents or Stewart Eva.

“We just keep telling him (Nicholas) that Stewart was a friend to the world,” Mrs Eva said.

“Stewart was the sort of person who could walk into a house or a pub … and by the time he walked out again, he was a mate with everyone.

“And when he laughed, he laughed with his whole body, he gave a good belly laugh.”

Wreckage of the Bell 407 Rescue helicopter crash which killed three crewmen off Mackay while on their way to Hamilton Island to pick up patient with a broken leg on 17 Oct 2003. Picture: Daryl Wright

Stewart’s crewmate Craig began his career in Emerald before moving to Mackay.

Mrs Liddington and her husband Brian – who travelled from Adelaide for the anniversary – said their sons were at the top of their careers.

Brian and Denise Liddington, parents of Craig Liddington.

Craig Liddington and Stewart Eva, who perish when the Bell 407 chopper they were in crashed during a routine mission to Hamilton Island in 2003. Picture: Supplied by RACQ CQ Rescue

Both the Liddingtons and Evas said there was solace in knowing the inquest into their sons’ deaths forever changed Australian aviation after CASA adopted 15 recommendations.

“We haven’t had any fatalities with rescue helicopter operations since,” Mrs Liddington said.

“It meant the sacrifice of our three precious boys meant something.”

Wreckage of CQ RESQ, Bell 407 Rescue helicopter that crashed resulting in a triple fatality on October 17, 2003.

The parents said the magistrate visited Cape Hillsborough to witness where emergency services had stood on the hillside to desperately try and find survivors 6km offshore.

The spot, now marked with a bench and plaque in the crew’s memory, is along a popular walking track in Cape Hillsborough National Park.

Down below, there are green turtles and just around the bend are the world-famous wallabies tourists come to see at sunrise.

Pilot Andrew Carpenter who was killed in the RACQ-CQ Rescue Helicopter crash of 2003. Photo Contributed

Mrs Liddington said she was glad the crash happened somewhere “so peaceful”, adding she often saw three eagles flying overhead, which she believed was not simply a coincidence.

The Evas said October 17 was a “celebration of life” and an important day to support one another through loss they would not wish on anybody.

An under shot of the Bell 407 chopper. Picture: Supplied by RACQ CQ Rescue

The triple-fatal was the darkest day in RACQ CQ Rescue’s history and sparked statewide changes to make aeromedical helicopters safer and new twin-engine IFR machines.

Both families thanked those who “worked tirelessly” to search for their sons, and gave a special thanks to the Mackay-based CQ Rescue crew and members who honour their memories each year amid their lifesaving missions, which have now clocked 11,600 across Central Queensland.

The Carpenter family was unable to make this year’s commemorations as they live in New Zealand.

Their son Andrew, who had worked in Gladstone before Mackay, was never found.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story was published with inacuracies. This article incorrectly stated Craig’s partner was expecting a child. It was Craig’s sister who was pregnant at the time of the crash. The Daily Mercury apologises for the error.

Originally published as Father’s scream after son lost in Hamilton Island rescue helicopter disaster