British mother and her daughter who died in sea plane tragedy
A MILLIONAIRE company boss and his magazine editor fiancee were among five Britons killed in a seaplane crash near Sydney, it was revealed yesterday.
Richard Cousins, 58, head of catering giant Compass, died along with his sons William, 25, and Edward, 23, fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, and her 11-year-old daughter Heather.
Canadian-born pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, was also killed in the New Year’s Eve disaster.
The group was in Australia on a family holiday and died while flying back to Sydney in a 1960s singleengine DHC-2 Beaver aircraft after lunch at a waterside restaurant about 20 miles north of the city, ahead of the famous New Year fireworks display.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators said the aircraft “sunk rapidly” on impact. The bodies were later recovered.
Sydney Seaplanes, whose scenic trips are popular with tourists and celebrities, has suspended all flights until further notice.
Mr Cousins and Ms Bowden, who were due to get married in June, lived together with Heather in Tooting, south London.
A neighbour at Mr Cousins’ previous home in Buckinghamshire said his first wife Caroline, who died of cancer nearly three years ago, “had told him to find somebody else” before she passed away.
Distraught
Her brother Ian Thorpe said: “I am extremely proud of him to have had a fantastic relationship with my sister and to have made her so happy until the day she died.”
Ms Bowden was a well-liked art editor at OK! Magazine in central London.
Mr Cousins was credited with turning Compass into one of Britain’s most successful listed companies and was recently ranked 11th best-performing CEO in the world by Harvard Business Review.
Surrey County Cricket Club chief executive Richard Gould paid tribute to Mr Cousins, who was passionate about the sport.
Mr Gould said: “Richard was a regular and very popular visitor to the Kia Oval and a great supporter of cricket. He was a member of all 18 first-class counties.”
Neighbours at the family’s Tooting home said “distraught” relatives were seen there on Sunday.
Lata Maisuria said the family was “happy-go-lucky” and Heather had recently started at a local secondary school.
It will take several days before the wreckage of the plane is recovered from 43ft of water in an inlet of the Hawkesbury River.
Commander Mark Hutchings of New South Wales Police said: “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.”
It is unclear if a mayday call was made. Witnesses said the plane nosedived into the water at about 3.10pm near Jerusalem Bay inlet.
Compass chairman Paul Walsh said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news. Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a no-nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain’s leading companies.”
William, Mr Cousins’ elder son, worked for Open Britain, a pro-EU group set up in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum vote.
Open Britain chairman Roland Rudd said: “All of us are devastated by the tragic loss of Will and his family.
“Will was an extraordinary young man who was passionate about what he did, who took deep pride in his work and came into the office every day with enthusiasm, energy and determination.”
Labour MP Alison McGovern tweeted: “Absolutely devastated. Thinking of all who loved him. Worked with Will over recent months and he always made me laugh, but was so very smart. An absolute joy to work with.”
Party colleague Chuka Umunna said: “I got to know Will very well, first through the Stronger IN campaign, then afterwards at Open Britain and through @LeaveWatch which he helped establish.”
William’s brother Edward was a student at the University of St Andrews.
He graduated last year and was due to join the police.
Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, said: “We grieve for those who lost their lives and our thoughts and prayers are with their families as they come to terms with this terrible loss.”