4 persons are useless, three preventing for his or her lives, and others injured after two helicopters collided close to the Sea World theme park as horrified holidaymakers watched on.
Particles showered down over the Broadwater on the Gold Coast earlier than the crippled plane spiralled right into a sandbank about 2pm native time on Monday.
Queensland Ambulance confirmed 4 individuals have been useless, three preventing for all times, and one other 4 rushed to hospital.
Three persons are feared useless after two helicopters collided in mid-air close to the Sea World on the Gold Coast theme park as horrified holidaymakers watched on
Paramedics and police on the scene on Monday afternoon (pictured)
Witnesses informed Every day Mail Australia one of many helicopters was coming in to land when it clipped the rotor of the opposite plane that was taking off.
Emma Burch, one other witness, had the identical account of how the accident unfolded.
‘From what we noticed one was taking off, the opposite touchdown. They clipped one another,’ she mentioned.
‘Huge bang heard proper by the Broadwater vacationer park then the swooshing because the one which misplaced management hit the water and broke aside.
‘It is simply terrible. Everyone seems to be in shock.’
One of many helicopters crashed into the sandbar, leaving wreckage throughout the shore with the primary rotor embedded within the sand a long way from the remainder of the wreck.
4 onboard died, together with the pilot, whereas one other three, a girl and two younger boys, are in important situation.
The opposite helicopter managed to land on the sandbar close by, with six individuals on board, a few of whom suffered non-life threatening accidents.
The 2 helicopters concerned within the collision will be seen on the sandbank – with crashing into the sand and the opposite touchdown upright
Marine Rescue raced to the sandbar, seen in entrance of 1 helicopter with a Sea World brand
Queensland Ambulance mentioned there have been 13 sufferers in whole, six in a single helicopter and 7 within the different.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport Responsibility captain Matt Fitzpatrick mentioned three models have been dispatched to the scene.
‘There are a number of helicopters concerned and we have no idea the state of those that have been aboard,’ he mentioned.
Images confirmed not less than one of many two choppers – the one which landed with out crashing – was a Sea World helicopter tour plane.
The corporate issued an announcement hours after the crash.
‘Sea World Helicopters (SWH) has expressed its shock and deepest sympathy for these concerned within the Sea World helicopter accident on the Gold Coast, Broadwater at Southport this afternoon,’ a spokesperson for Sea World Helicopters mentioned.
‘We and your entire flying group are devastated by what has occurred and our honest condolences go to all these concerned and particularly the family members and household of the deceased.
‘We’re cooperating with all of the authorities together with the Australian Transport Security Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police. As it’s now a police investigation we can’t present any additional data at this stage.’
Paramedics transported one affected person to a ready helicopter to be airlifted to hospital
The entrance of the Sea World helicopter that remained nonetheless upright sustained heavy injury
Witnesses expressed their shock on the mid-air collision.
‘I heard a bang and noticed smoke billowing from one of many choppers. It was smoking and wobbling to the bottom,’ one witness informed Every day Mail Australia.
‘One particular person was asking whether or not it was a part of the Sea World present.’
A distraught lady and youngster have been seen on the helipad whereas a part of the theme park was shut down so patrons could not look out on the crash web site.
Others mentioned watching the accident unfold was ‘past horrible’.
‘My daughter noticed them. Individuals on each. Landed on the sand not in SeaWorld thank goodness. Simply praying for all,’ one mentioned.
‘We heard a loud noise and noticed bits of particles flying,’ one other wrote on-line.
Gold Coast resident Tor Kumpel was swimming within the broadwater together with his spouse when he witnessed the collision simply after one helicopter took off.
‘It was just one helicopter that crashed. The one which was arising. It was horrific to see,’ he informed The Courier Mail.
‘The (pilot) who was within the different one which landed. They deserve a medal. It took a bit to regular however they did it.’
Blue Mountains resident Amii McDermot, 42, was in line at Sea World’s Vortex trip when she noticed the crash unfold.
‘There was particles in all places, the tail fell off certainly one of them and the helicopter nosedived into the bottom at full-speed.’
She mentioned her two youthful youngsters do not realise what they noticed however her older two are fairly shaken up.
Investigators are racing to gather proof earlier than excessive tide covers the sandbar
Officers scour the sand for items of particles that would help the investigation into the trigger
The Australian Transport Security Bureau mentioned it has already commenced an investigation into the collision.
‘Transport security investigators with expertise in helicopter operations, upkeep and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB’s Brisbane and Canberra workplaces and are anticipated to start arriving on the accident web site from Monday afternoon,’ ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell mentioned.
‘Throughout the proof gathering part of the investigation, ATSB investigators will study the wreckage and map the accident web site.’
‘Investigators will even get well any related elements for additional examination on the ATSB’s technical services in Canberra, collect any obtainable recorded information for evaluation, and interview witnesses and different concerned events.
The ATSB is asking for witnesses of the crash to contact them instantly.
Emergency companies rushed to the wreckage hoping to seek out survivors, however grave fears are held for all these on board
