‘Heartbroken’ family name Wirral newlyweds killed in Australian helicopter crash at Sea World theme park

A Wirral couple who were killed when two helicopters collided in Australia’s Gold Coast on Monday (January 2) have been named as Ron and Diane Hughes.

The newlyweds, who tied the knot in August 2021, had travelled to Queensland to visit Ron’s daughter Jane Manns, her husband Ben Manns and their children.

As part of their trip of a lifetime, Ron, 65, and Diane, 57, from Neston on the Wirral Peninsula, boarded a helicopter for a joyride near the popular Sea World theme park when the tragedy struck.

In a statement to Australia’s 7NEWS, Mr Hughes’ daughter said: “Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know.”

In a public Facebook post, Mrs Hughes’ brother Dave Boyce said: “For those who don’t know my sister and her husband where involved in the helicopter crash on the Gold Coast. We would also like to thank you all for the love and support we have received. We are truly humbled at this heartbreaking time.”

The crash occurred at around 2pm local time (4am GMT) in Main Beach, killing four passengers and critically injuring three others.

One helicopter appeared to have been taking off and the other landing when they collided near the Sea World theme park at Main Beach, a northern beach on the Gold Coast, said Gary Worrell, Queensland state police acting inspector. One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area police described as difficult to access.

An Australian woman, Venessa Tadros, also died in the crash while her 10-year-old son remains in a critical condition in hospital. The pilot, Ash Jenkinson, originally from Birmingham, was also killed - bringing the total number of Britons reported to have died in the crash to three.

Jenkinson, 40, had been the chief pilot and head of operations at Sea World Helicopters. The father-of-one, whose wife, Kosha, gave birth to their first son 17 months ago, had trained numerous novice pilots.

In an interview on Australian breakfast television, close friend Andy Taylor said Jenkinson did a lot of charity work and flew his helicopter to help victims of the recent New South Wales floods. He said: “He is the best of the best. I don’t know what else to say.”

Air safety investigators reportedly said the crash could have been much worse if it weren’t for the second pilot’s expertise in making a heavy landing despite having his cockpit glass broken by the other aircraft’s rotor blade.

Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau described the actions of the 52 year-old Sydney pilot to land safely as a “remarkable achievement”. He said: “While it has been very tragic that four people have lost their lives and many families are mourning this morning, we could have had a far worse situation.”

Investigators will also work to determine what transpired in the helicopters’ cockpits before the collision and to examine the landing procedures and business protocols, in addition to analysing surveillance footage and films shot by beachgoers. They had also retrieved recording devices from the aircraft.

According to eyewitness video, the second aircraft’s front cockpit was struck by the main rotor blade of the descending helicopter, which was coming in to land. In the collision, the aircraft’s gearbox and rotor blade split off, sending the helicopter hurtling toward the sandbank.

The incident occurred in front of hundreds of people who were celebrating the New Year’s Day public holiday in the popular tourist location. At the moment, John Hunt, who was visiting the theme park, thought one of the helicopters was going to crash into the crowd, but the pilot was able to get out of the sandbank.

Sea World theme park said on Tuesday (January 3): "Village Roadshow Theme Parks (VRTP) offers its deepest condolences to all those impacted by the helicopter tragedy. While Sea World Helicopters is an independent professional operator, VRTP is working with emergency services and the authorities to provide every possible assistance."

Sea World Helicopters, a separate company from the park where it operates, also expressed its condolences and said it was cooperating with the authorities handling the crash investigation.

It said in a statement: “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.”