Sea World helicopter collision witness says he feared one chopper would ‘crash on top of crowd’ as investigation gets underway

Authorities are providing an update after four people were killed in a helicopter crash on the Gold Coast on Monday.

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[BLOG] Pilot remembered as ‘big guy with a big heart’

A crash involving two helicopters that left four people dead and nine injured on the Gold Coast on Monday could have been much worse if the pilots had not come down on a sandbar, a witness says.

The two aircraft, operated by Sea World Helicopters, had been undertaking flights over the Broadwater at Southport when witnesses said the tail of one chopper that had just taken off collided with the cockpit of another that appeared to be coming in to land.

The tail of the first helicopter broke off on impact, sending the aircraft plunging to the ground, while the other chopper crash landed upright on a sand bank, with major damage to the cockpit around the pilot’s seating area.

Sea World Helicopters pilot Ash Jenkinson died in the crash with friends paying tribute to him on social media.

Many spoke of Mr Jenkinson’s generous spirit, including how in March last year he put together a team to help victims of the floods in northern NSW.

Andrew Taylor remembered his friend of six years as a “big guy with a big heart” and “someone you just naturally wanted to be around”.

“He was a very good pilot, so for something like yesterday to happen sort of blows your mind a little bit.”

He told the ABC Mr Jenkinson leaves behind a toddler son and a fiancé.

The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said two of the fatalities were UK citizens. 

“We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities,” the FCDO said in a statement. 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has sent investigators to the Gold Coast to look into the mid-air collision. Anyone who witnessed it has been asked to contact the agency.

Three of those injured in the crash were in a critical condition as of late Monday, Queensland Police Service Acting Inspector Gary Worrell said.

All of those who died or were seriously injured were onboard the same helicopter, he said.

The fact they had landed on a sandbank outside the Sea World resort made it difficult for emergency crews to access the crash scene, he added.

Both aircraft had been operating out of a terminal next to the Sea World Marine Park, which was packed with holiday-makers. Passengers were taking flights over the Broadwater, which was also crowded with boats.

John Hunt, who witnessed the crash while visiting Sea World, said he feared one of the helicopters was going to crash on top of the crowd.

“We looked up and we heard a bang and we saw one helicopter had hit and had already started to crash,” he said.

“The other helicopter hovered over the Jelly Fish building [in the park]. We thought he was going to crash on top of all the crowd, but the pilot was able to get out onto the sandbank, probably an extra 30 metres away from where it was.”

Mr Hunt said the pilot who managed to land on the sand bank had saved many lives because the park was “choked with people”.

He said he did not know what caused the crash, but that it was “pretty windy”.

“They’ve got a big windsock near the helicopter area. The windsock was full of air,” Mr Hunt said.

Steve Raschilla saw one of the planes “break into pieces”.

“One of them from underneath, seemed like [it] came up and hit the bottom of the other one on top,” he said.

“I don’t know if they were both trying to land at the same time, [or] what they were trying to do.”

Mr Raschilla, a nearby resident, said it was not unusual to see helicopters fly in the area, but it was odd seeing helicopters out in windy conditions.

Sea World cooperating with investigations

Sea World Helicopters issued a statement expressing “shock and deepest sympathy” for those involved in the accident.

“We are cooperating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Queensland Police. As it is now a police investigation we cannot provide any further information at this stage,” it said.

Eight patients were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital and one to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, the Queensland Ambulance Service said.

Mr Hunt said Sea World staff, people on jet skis and recreational boaties had rushed to the scene of the crash “to try and help” after it happened.

“Those people will probably see some really horrific things today,” he said.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks (VRTP), which runs the Sea World theme park, offered its “deepest condolences” to those impacted by the tragedy.

“While Sea World Helicopters is an independent professional operator, VRTP is working with emergency services and the authorities to provide every possible assistance,” it said in a statement.

“We are providing support to our team members who have been emotionally affected by the tragedy.”