Kiwis survive air tragedy
New Zealanders walk away from helicopter collision that killed pilot and three tourists
TOne (helicopter) was coming up, and the other one was coming down and the back rotor collected the one coming down. Tor Kumpel
wo New Zealand families were among those involved in a helicopter collision on Australia’s Gold Coast yesterday. Queensland police said initial investigations indicated the crash occurred when one helicopter was landing and another was taking off near Sea world Drive in Main Beach.
One of the helicopters managed to successfully land on a sandbank but the other crashed with seven passengers — three of whom died as well as the pilot.
The aircraft which landed had five passengers, including two families from New Zealand who were travelling together, a 44-year-old man and 43-year-old woman from one family and a 48-year-old man and 45-yearold woman from the other.
One person from this aircraft was uninjured, with the remaining five people sustaining minor physical injuries.
The Kiwi passengers escaped with just cuts and scratches, the Herald has been told. After the crash, they were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment for minor injuries, Queensland police said. A Gold Coast Health spokeswoman told the
Herald they were treated in the emergency department for cuts and scratches and were not admitted.
The three people who died at the scene were the pilot, a 57-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man from the United Kingdom, and a 36-yearold woman from New South Wales.
A 10-year old boy from NSW is currently in a critical condition in Gold Coast University Hospital.
A 33-year-old woman and 9-yearold boy from Victoria are also in hospital with serious injuries.
The pilot who lost his life after the collision between the two Sea World tour helicopters has been identified as Ashley Jenkinson, a respected figure in the aviation industry.
Jenkinson worked as a chief pilot at Sea World Helicopters.
Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Detectives and the Forensic Crash Unit are assisting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with investigations.
Police are appealing for witnesses, especially those who have video of the crash, and who have not yet spoken to investigators.
Pictures from the aftermath show one of the choppers wholly wrecked in the crash while the other had its front destroyed.
Witness Emma Burch told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “They clipped each other.”
“Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park, then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart.
“It’s just awful. Everyone is in shock.”
Another witness “heard a bang” before seeing smoke billowing from one of the aircraft.
“It was smoking and wobbling to the ground,” they said.
“One person was asking whether it was part of the Sea World show.”
Local Tor Kumpel and his wife were swimming at the nearby Broadwater estuary and witnessed the collision.
“I could see two helicopters. One was coming up, and the other one was coming down and the back rotor collected the one coming down,” he told the Courier Mail.
“It was only one helicopter that crashed. The one that was coming up. It was horrific to see.”
Another eyewitness, John, called into 3AW radio to detail what he saw.
“It was just huge. I’m not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other.”
Another reported seeing one of the choppers “nosedived into the ground at full speed”.
Sea World Helicopters expressed its sympathy for those involved in the crash — and said it is co-operating with the authorities to find out what happened.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country had been left shocked by the “terrible and tragic incident”.
“My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.”