BBC
The British victims of a mid-air collision between two helicopters on Australia’s Gold Coast have been named.
Diane Hughes, 57, and her 65-year-old husband Ron were from Liverpool and had only got married last year. They were on holiday, Queensland Police said.
The pilot and another passenger also died in Monday’s crash, which happened as one helicopter was taking off from a sandbar and the other was landing.
Three others, including two children, were badly injured and are in hospital.
In a statement to Australian news outlet 7NEWS, Mr Hughes’ daughter Jane Manns 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.”
In a public Facebook post, Mrs Hughes’ brother Dave Boyce thanked friends for their support, adding: “We are truly humbled at this heart-breaking time.”
Australian media reported that 36-year-old Vanessa Tadros also died in the crash, and her 10-year-old son was critically injured.
The fourth victim was 40-year-old Ashley Jenkinson, an experienced Sea World Helicopters pilot who lived in the area.
Mr Jenkinson was a “big guy with a big heart”, said one friend quoted by local media.
The cause of the crash, which happened near the Sea World resort about 80km (50 miles) southeast of Brisbane, is not yet known.
Both helicopters were operating tourist flights for the resort.
Its owner, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, has offered condolences and said Sea World Helicopters was an independent operator…
