Father of 10-year-old Australian helicopter crash victim speaks out as son fights for his life

A husband who lost his wife in a helicopter crash on Australia’s Gold Coast has spoken out as his 10-year-old son fights for his life.

Simon Tadros watched from the ground as the Sea World aircraft took off on Monday afternoon, with his wife Vanessa Tadros, 36, and son Nicholas on board.

Mr Tadros posted a statement on social media via Vanessa’s event planning business, Vee Vee Creations. He wrote: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to inform everyone of the passing of my beautiful wife and mother to my son Vanessa.

“Vanessa was one of the victims in the Sea World helicopter crash that happened on the Gold Coast a couple of days ago. While my son is fighting for life in the ICU of Gold Coast hospital.”

He explained that his wife’s business will be closing down, apologising to customers who may have been “inconvenienced”.

The daughter of the British man and his wife who were killed in the crash also released a statement to media, saying their family is “heartbroken”.

Jane Manns, the daughter of Ron Hughes, 65, who died alongside his wife Diane, 57, said: “Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know.

“Please respect our privacy at this devastating time.”

Mr Hughes, from Neston, Cheshire, had been visiting his daughter and her family in Australia when the tragic accident occurred, according to reports.

Dave Boyce, Mrs Hughes’ brother, wrote on Facebook: “For those who don’t know my sister and her husband were involved in the helicopter crash on the Gold Coast yesterday.

“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 couple were killed alongside the pilot, 40, when their helicopter collided with another at around 2pm local time (4am GMT) on Monday in Main Beach.

Helicopter pilot, Ashley Jenkinson, lived in the Gold Coast area but was originally from Birmingham, where he once worked in bars on Broad Street in the city.

Ritchie Gregg, who knew Mr Jenkinson for 10 years, shared that he is survived by his young son Kayden and his fiancee.

A nine-year-old boy and his mother were among other passengers in the helicopter and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Neil De Silva, husband to Winnie and step-father to Leon, who joined the pair on holiday in the Gold Coast from Geelong, Australia, has set up a GoFundMe page in order to help the family stay on their feet as they take time to recover.

He wrote on the site: “Thankfully they are both alive but have a lot of surgery ahead of them which means the family will need to stay here on the Gold Coast and I won’t be able to return to work.”

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with those affected by the incident.

Following the incident, he said: “Australia is shocked by the news of the terrible and tragic helicopter incident today on the Gold Coast.

“My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.”

Queensland police have said the other aircraft, which landed on the Broadwater sandbank, had six occupants, including the pilot, a 52-year-old Clontarf man.

The passengers included a 27-year-old Western Australian woman and two families from New Zealand who were travelling together, a 44-year-old man and 43-year-old woman from one family and a 48-year-old man and 45-year-old woman from the other.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is part of the investigation into the incident. Chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said it was a “tragic start to the new year” but it was “very fortunate” that more people were not killed.

He explained that the main rotors of the helicopter taking off collided with the landing helicopter around 200m in the air, causing considerable damage to the front section.

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