No less than 4 individuals have died and three are badly injured after two helicopters crashed on a seaside in Australia.
The collision occurred close to the Sea World Theme Park on the Gold Coast when one of many plane was taking off whereas the opposite was touchdown.
One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, however particles from the opposite was unfold throughout an space inspector Gary Worrell described as tough to entry.
The lifeless and three most critically injured individuals have been all passengers within the crashed helicopter.
Tributes have been paid to the pilot killed alongside three passengers within the horrific crash.
Ash Jenkinson, 40, was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, which runs the excursions from the favored theme park.
He's mentioned to have been on the controls of the plane that nosedived into the sand.
Mr Jenkinson leaves behind a spouse and members of his shut household in addition to lots of of mates who knew the favored Gold Coast native as ‘Jenko’.
Pal Ritchie Gregg referred to as him a ‘legend’ and recounted when he lent his prize helicopter to help the victims of the 2022 floods.
‘It will at all times be the spotlight of my life and simply considered one of your legacies after we helped flood individuals. Cheers,’ Mr Gregg wrote on Fb.
Video exhibits a holidaymaker and his younger son watching the helicopter raise after which inside seconds cross into the trail of the second plane.
Witnesses rushed to the scene – simply metres from the closely crowded theme park and marina – and frantically referred to as emergency providers earlier than pulling out these contained in the wreckage.
Mr Worrell added: ‘Members of the general public and police tried to take away the individuals and so they commenced first assist and tried to get these individuals to security from an airframe that was the other way up.
‘(Individuals on) Jet Skis, household boaters, extraordinary members of the general public rushed to help these individuals.’
Passengers within the different helicopter, which misplaced its windscreen within the crash, are additionally receiving medical help.
No less than 13 sufferers have been being assessed for accidents, Queensland Ambulance Service mentioned.
One helicopter was left the other way up on a sandbar on the water’s edge with particles strewn round Essential Seaside, on the Gold Coast.
Authorities have closed Seaworld Drive, the entry street to the theme park.
Witness Emma Burch informed the Gold Coast Bulletin the accident appeared to happen when one chopper was taking off and because the different landed.
‘They clipped one another,’ she mentioned.
‘Large bang heard proper by means of the Broadwater vacationer park then the swooshing because the one which misplaced management hit the water and broke aside.
‘It’s simply terrible. Everyone seems to be in shock.’
The Australian Transport Security Bureau confirmed it has commenced an investigation into the incident.
‘Transport security investigators with expertise in helicopter operations, upkeep and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB’s Brisbane and Canberra places of work and are anticipated to start arriving on the accident website from Monday afternoon,’ the ATSB mentioned in an announcement.
The Australian Transport Security Bureau was investigating the collision, chief commissioner Angus Mitchell mentioned.
The Gold Coast area is at its busiest in January, the height time for holidays in Australia’s summer time.
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