A couple from the North West have been named among four killed in a mid-air helicopter crash in Australia.
Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, died after one helicopter which was taking off collided with another which was landing at a tourist hotspot known as Main Beach - near Sea World - on the Gold Coast at around 2pm on Monday, the Mirror reports. The couple were from Liverpool and married in 2021.
They were holidaying in Australia, reported 7News.com.au. An FCDO spokesperson earlier said: "We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities."
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The pilot, named locally as 40-year-old Ash Jenkinson, is also reported to have died at the scene alongside three passengers, Mr and Mrs Hughes and 36-year-old Vanessa Tadros from New South Wales. Ms Tadros' 10-year-old son Nicholas was taken to hospital in a critical condition as were Winnie De Silva, aged 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon, it is reported.
Devastated friends and family paid tribute to Mr Jenkinson, who was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, which operates tours for the theme park. He leaves behind a wife and young son. One person wrote: "You started as a work colleague and quickly became a mate.
"A huge tragedy! You are definitely going to be missed you absolute legend of a bloke."
Queensland Police said one of the choppers managed to successfully land on a sandbank, and the other crashed while containing seven people. Footage of the crash showed a helicopter shortly after take-off being clipped by another aircraft flying over the water.
Dan Hargreaves, who was at a cafe overlooking Seaworld at the time of the crash, told the Mirror how he heard a 'loud bang like a big gunshot'. He said: "I saw the more damaged helicopter going down and hit the sand moments afterwards.
"It all happened in a matter of seconds, and was business as usual before that." Mr Hargreaves, who is local to the area, says he sees many helicopters operating tours there on a daily basis."
He added: "Luckily no people were below the crash when it happened, as far as I could tell. Both helicopters ended up on an empty sandbank.
"There were hundreds of people on my side of the water that saw it too. Everyone was just looking on in shock unable to do anything.
"As many people that were near seemed to rush over, you could see them getting off jet skis and running over. Honestly it was traumatic and just devastating for the people involved."
One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank but debris from the other was spread across an area which police described as difficult to access. Passengers in the other helicopter, which lost its windscreen in the crash, were also receiving medical assistance.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the helicopter that was taking off was in the air for less than 20 seconds. “After the collision, it was a matter of seconds before it’s hit the ground,” he told reporters. "So it has unfolded very quickly.”
The ATSB has started an investigation into the crash and is piecing together what happened. Sea World Helicopters, a separate company from the theme park, expressed its condolences and said it was cooperating with the authorities handling the crash investigation.
"We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased," the statement said.
The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash, saying it would not comment further because of the investigation.
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