NATION Top Brit CEO in fatal plane crash
HIGH- PROFILE British businessman Richard Cousins and his family have been identified as the five passengers killed when a seaplane crashed into the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney.
Experienced pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, also died when the single- engine 1964 DHC- 2 Beaver seaplane plunged into Jerusalem Bay on Sunday.
Mr Cousins, 58, his sons, Edward and William Cousins, aged 23 and 25, his fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter, Heather BowdenPage, 11, died in the crash.
Mr Cousins ( pictured) was the CEO of the world’s largest food catering company – Compass Group.
The family was on holiday A DISABLED mother and her daughter claim they were brought to tears and left humiliated after being refused service at a McDonald’s outlet.
Dawn Weeding’s mobility scooter was too big to fit through the entrance doors of the fast food restaurant and she tried to order using the drive- in Sydney and was returning from lunch at the picturesque Cottage Point Inn when the crash happened.
Sydney Seaplanes has suspended all flights indefinitely in the wake of the tragedy.
Mr Morgan was described as a “lovely and gentle guy” by Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw.
He told reporters Mr Morgan had more than 10,000 flying hours, 9000 of which were on seaplanes.
“We are all absolutely devastated at his loss and ringing his parents today was obviously one of the worst calls that I have ever had to make in my through. The 39- year- old said the manager of the store in Langwarrin, Victoria, refused to serve her and she saw staff laughing at her.
Ms Weeding was also told that staff would not serve her from the carpark. The store manager said to the mother at the drive- through window that life and they are really sad and devastated by his loss,” Mr Shaw said.
He assured the public the company would be an “open book” and turn over maintenance logs and information about the fleet to help investigators.
Mr Cousins in September announced his retirement from Compass Group after turning around its financial misfortunes in his 11- year tenure, UK media reported.
He was named as the world’s 11th most powerful CEO by the Harvard Business Review this year.
Paul Walsh, Compass Group chairman, said the company was “deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news”.
“The thoughts of everyone she could not be served due to occupational health and safety regulations. The chronic pain syndrome sufferer said she drove off in tears.
“I was gobsmacked,” Ms Weeding said.
The manager of the McDonald’s outlet refused to comment. at Compass are with Richard’s family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them,” he said.
“Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a no- nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain’s leading companies.”
Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings from the NSW Police Marine Area Command said authorities had been in contact with the UK but formal identification by the coroner was ongoing.
“They were in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and for this to happen to them at a place like this is nothing more than just tragic,” he told reporters in Sydney. THE Victorian Government has hit back at the Prime Minister after he accused them of not doing enough to stop youth crime and gang violence in Melbourne and across the state.
“We are very concerned at the growing gang violence and lawlessness in Victoria, in particular in Melbourne,” Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday. “This is a failure of the Andrews Labor government.”
He said Victoria Police had the capacity to do the job but needed better directions from the State Government.
“But what is lacking is the political leadership and the determination on the part of Premier Daniel Andrews,” Mr Turnbull said.
He said authorities need “leadership, the direction, the confidence of the government to get on with the job and tackle this gang problem”.
The State Government said it did not want to play political games about youth crime.