Businessman who died with family in seaplane praised by colleagues
TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to a British family – including a highprofile businessman and an 11-year-old girl – after they were killed in a seaplane crash in Sydney on New Year’s Eve.
Leeds-born Richard Cousins, the 58-year-old chief executive of FTSE 100 company Compass Group, died alongside his sons Will and Edward, aged 25 and 23, his fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, and her young daughter Heather while they were on holiday in Australia.
The group were were on a return flight to Sydney’s Rose Bay, close to Sydney Harbour, when the small aircraft apparently nose-dived into the Hawkesbury River off Jerusalem Bay, 25 miles north of Sydney city centre, on Sunday afternoon.
A sixth person on board, Sydney Seaplanes pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, also died.
Friends and colleagues described Mr Cousins as “well known and respected” after he helped transform Compass’s fortunes upon becoming the ailing catering firm’s boss in 2006.
He had been due to step down from the role in March this year.
Paul Walsh, Compass chairman, said: “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.”
THE POLITICAL campaigner who died in a seaplane crash in Australia on New Year’s Eve was described last night as “exceptionally talented” and an “extraordinary young man”.
Will Cousins, 25, head of press for Open Britain, which opposes a hard Brexit, died alongside his Leeds-born father Richard, 58, and his brother Edward, 23, who had recently graduated from St Andrews University; Emma Bowden, 48, the arts editor for OK! magazine, who was Richard’s fiancee, and her 11-year-old daughter Heather Bowden in the crash off Jerusalem Bay near Cowan, 25 miles north of Sydney, at about 3.10pm on Sunday.
Labour MPs said Mr Cousins, who worked on the Remain campaign during the referendum, was an “absolute joy” to work with and would be “missed by all”.
Former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie said: “Such awful news – a devastating family tragedy. Will Cousins was exceptionally talented head of press for @Open_Britain and he’ll be deeply missed by all. Many condolences to his friends, family and colleagues.”
Mary Creagh, a Labour former frontbencher and Wakefield MP, said: “So very sad to hear of the loss of brilliant Will Cousins. His family, friends & @Open_Britain colleagues are in my thoughts and prayers.”
Open Britain chairman Roland Rudd said Mr Cousins was an “extraordinary young man” who would be “missed beyond words”.
Neighbours at the family home in Tooting, south-west London, described how “distraught” relatives were seen entering the property on Sunday after hearing the news.
Resident Lata Maisuria, a neighbour who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said the tragic holidaymakers were a “happy-go-lucky” family, and that neighbours would be shocked by their death.
She added that Heather had recently started at a local secondary school. “She seemed happy there,” Ms Maisuria said. “I asked the daughter a couple of times how she was liking it, and she seems to have fitted in nicely at the school, and she seemed to be very happy. She really wanted to go to that school, she was looking forward to it.”
Terry Spry, 71, said the family were “lovely, charming” people.
Surrey County Cricket Club chief executive Richard Gould also paid tribute to businessman Mr Cousins, chief executive of one of the world’s largest catering companies Compass Group, who was passionate about cricket.
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. This is a tragic incident.”
Investigators with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the aircraft was thought to have “sunk rapidly” upon impact. The bodies of those on board have since been recovered.
About ten recreational boats were believed to have been in the area and police have appealed for anyone who may have seen what happened to come forward.
Det Supt Mark Hutchings, head of the New South Wales marine area command, said the crash could “only be described as a tragic accident”.
He added: “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.”
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”.
So very sad to hear of the loss of brilliant Will Cousins. Mary Creagh, a Labour former frontbencher and Wakefield MP