Shock at new year death of London businessman
THE British CEO of the world’s largest food company and four members of his family were killed in a tragic plane crash in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday (December 31).
Richard Cousins, 58, was the head of the Chertsey-based catering firm, Compass Group, and lived in Tooting with his family.
He died alongside his fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter Heather Bowden and his two sons, William Cousins, 25, and Edward Cousins, 23.
The five were on a family holiday in Australia on a return flight to Sydney’s Rose Bay, close to Sydney Harbour, when their seaplane crashed.
The plane came down off Jerusalem Bay, near Cowan, 25 miles north of Sydney centre, at about 3.10pm (4.10am GMT) on Sunday December 31.
Mr Cousins, who lived in Tooting, was due to stand down as CEO of Compass, located near Chertsey rail station, in March this year.
Paul Walsh, the firm’s chairman, said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news. The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard’s family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them.
“It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years. Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a nononsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain’s leading companies.”
In a statement, Compass Group announced the appointment of Dominic Blakemore as new CEO of the Surrey company.
Describing the crash as a “tragic accident”, Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings, head of the New South Wales marine area com- mand, said: “These people had come over on holiday to one of the most beautiful parts of the world and for this to happen at a place like this is just tragic.”
The sixth person who died was named as Australian pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, who worked for tour company Sydney Seaplanes.
Sydney Seaplanes, which has flown passengers including singer Ed Sheeran and Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews, said it was “deeply shocked” by the “tragic accident”.
The single-engine plane “sunk rapidly” after hitting Hawkesbury River, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said.
Police divers were flown to the scene and all six bodies were recovered on Sunday evening.
It may take several days to recover the wreckage of the plane, the force added. An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances leading up to the crash.