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Two Britons had been amongst 4 killed after two helicopters collided mid-air close to a marine theme park within the Australian state of Queensland.
An FCDO spokesperson stated: “We’re supporting the household of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in touch with the native authorities.”
The collision occurred on the Gold Coast at round 2pm native time, when the park would have been stuffed with households having fun with faculty summer season holidays.
Preliminary investigations have proven that one helicopter taking off, which contained seven folks, collided with one other helicopter coming into land, which contained six folks. Australian Transport Security Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell, stated that the incident is a “tragic begin to the brand new yr”.
He defined that the primary rotors of the helicopter taking off collided with the touchdown helicopter round 200m within the air, inflicting appreciable injury to the entrance part. Throughout the course of, the primary rotor blade and gearbox indifferent from the primary physique of the plane.
The helicopter coming into land “remarkably” landed upright, regardless of appreciable injury to the entrance left part of the plane, the place the pilot was sat.
Members of the general public had been amongst these first on the scene, with a sandbank making it troublesome for emergency service staff to entry the location of the crash.
“Members of the general public and police tried to take away the folks they usually commenced first help and tried to assist these folks to security,” stated Inspector Worrell.
Janey Shearman, from Queensland Ambulance Service, stated 13 folks had been on the 2 helicopters.
The three folks critically injured had been affected by “multi-system trauma”, whereas six folks with minor accidents – primarily from the influence of the glass – had been additionally taken to hospital.
Sea World Helicopters, a separate firm from the theme park, expressed its condolences, saying it was “devastated” by what had occurred and was co-operating in an investigation opened by authorities exploring the reason for the crash.
A press release learn: “We and your entire flying neighborhood 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.”
A witness named John described to Melbourne radio station 3AW that there was a “huge, huge bang” and employees on the theme half moved swiftly to shut off areas closest to the crash.
“It was simply large. I am undecided if it was the propellers or no matter hitting in opposition to one another. However there was this poor woman and her son close to the helipad in tears.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated the accident was an “unthinkable tragedy”.
She stated: “My deepest sympathies are with every of the households and everybody affected by this horrible accident.”
What’s the course of now?
Mr Mitchell continued to clarify that the ATSB will proceed to assemble all potential intelligence, together with digital camera footage taken by members of the general public and CCTV from close by buildings.
He stated: “What we have to know now could be what was occurring inside them two cockpits on the time. We all know the take off and touchdown are essential phases of any flight the place the cognitive workload of pilots are at their best.
“We’ll get what we will from these two helicopters to attempt to get a greater image of what occurred and finally take a look at the processes that had been in place which can be designed to guard helicopters on this state of affairs.
“We all know that it’s a busy time of the yr and helicopters are out and in of the Sea World helipad consistently all through the day. We will likely be a number of strains of inquiry right here across the procedures which can be in place and what probably helped to contribute to such a tragic incident.”
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