Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Accidents

Helicopters collide over Australian beach, 4 people dead

Two cashed helicopters sit on the sand at a collision scene near Seaworld, on the Gold Coast, Australia, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The 2 helicopters collided killing several passengers and critically injuring a few others in a crash that drew emergency aid from beachgoers enjoying the water during the southern summer. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two helicopters collided in an Australian tourist hotspot Monday afternoon, killing four people and critically injuring three others in a crash that drew emergency aid from beachgoers enjoying the water during the southern summer.

One helicopter was taking off and the other landing when they collided near the Sea World theme park in Main Beach, a northern beach on the Gold Coast, Gary Worrell, Queensland state police acting inspector, said at a news conference.

One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area police described as difficult to access.

The dead and three most seriously injured people were all in the crashed helicopter. The pilot was killed and three of its six passengers.

“Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down,” Worrell said.

“(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.”

Passengers in the other helicopter, which lost its windscreen in the crash, also received medical assistance.

Footage of the crash showed a helicopter shortly after takeoff being clipped by another helicopter flying over the water.

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 operated both helicopters. It said in the statement it would not comment further because of the investigation.

A witness named John told Melbourne radio station 3AW that patrons at Sea World heard the crash.

He said staff at the theme park moved swiftly to close off areas closest to the crash.

“There was a massive, massive bang,” he said. “It was just huge. I’m not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears.”

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the accident was an “unthinkable tragedy.

“My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident,” she said.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway.

The Gold Coast region is at its busiest in January, the peak time for holidays in Australia’s summer.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/queensland-ghana-law-enforcement-54aecb9d3abbf17769103949829e2ffa

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Accidents

FILE – This undated image provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company’s Titan submersible. The wrecks of the Titanic and the...

Government

FILE-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga to mark International Day of Yoga in Dehradun, India, Thursday, June 21, 2018. India’s Prime Minister Narendra...

Business News

Homes are seen near the permanent danger zone surrounding Mayon volcano at Bonga village, Albay province, northeastern Philippines, on June 15, 2023. Thousands of...

Environmental News

FILE – The Sutlej River flows in the valley below the tall snowy peaks in the Kinnaur district of the Himalayan state of Himachal...

Copyright © 2023 Newsworthy News | Global | Political | Local | All News | Website By: Top Search SEO