Sea World helicopter crash: Sydney mother and British couple identified trends now
A Sydney mother and a British couple have been identified as three of the four people killed in the horrific Sea World chopper crash.
Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, and British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57 died when a Sea World EC130 helicopter collided with another chopper mid-air and plummeted 30 metres near the Sea World theme park at 2pm on Monday.
Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, originally from Birmingham in the UK, is the fourth person who was killed in the crash.
Mrs Tadros is believed to be related to the British couple and had been holidaying with her family when she boarded the chopper with her 10-year-old son Nicholas while her husband stayed behind.
Nicholas survived the crash but was left in a critical condition and has already undergone four surgeries since he was taken to hospital.
Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, was killed while her 10-year-old son Nicholas survived the helicopter crash on Monday
British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57 died when a Sea World EC130 helicopter collided with another chopper mid-air and plummeted 30 metres near the Sea World theme park at 2pm on Monday
Sea World helicopters chief pilot Ash 'Jenko' Jenkinson, 40, died in the helicopter crash (pictured with his wife, Kosha)
Mrs Tadros is also known as Vanessa Geagea with tributes pouring in for the late mother.
'R.I.P. cousin Vanessa Geagea. You passed away too soon in this horrific tragedy,' a family member wrote on Facebook.
'May God have mercy on you, Vanessa, yourself in heaven, and may God heal your son, O Lord, and grant him peace'
The pilot of the second helicopter, which had five passengers on board, miraculously managed to land on a sand bar, with everyone aboard able to walk away.
Queensland Police and ATSB Officers are now recovering the wreckage from the crash site.
Mr Jenkinson, a father who had instructed numerous novice pilots, had welcomed his first son to the world in September last year with his wife Kosha.
One of Jenkinson's closest mates, Ritchie Gregg, says he was 'a top guy, top gun and the best dad' and that his 17-month-old son Kaiden 'would probably be asking where dad is' right now.
One of Jenkinson's closest mates, Ritchie Gregg, sent a text message to Ash after learning about the tragedy on social media
Mr Gregg said he sent a message to Jenkinson when he heard from another of their mates via social media that there had been a crash, asking 'hope that wasn't you?'
'I heard at ten past two. So I sent the message and was waiting for an answer.
'When he and Kosha had their son (in September 2021) he was the most excited dad. (Kosha) is very silent, she's in shock Kaiden … would probably be asking where dad is.
'They only got married in October,' he explained.
'Ash had the biggest heart and was the happiest guy. When he'd finished work flying he'd be straight home to see his boy.
'Family was his biggest thing,' he said.
The mangled wreck of the chopper is seen on the sandbank as the detached rotor is lifted in the air
Mr Jenkinson welcomed his first child, a son, Kaiden, with his wife Kosha back in September last year
Another close friend, Andy Taylor said he discovered the horrifying news with everyone else, on social media.
'I saw it come up on a post on social media,' Mr Taylor told Sunrise.
'I tried to ring Ash straight away. At first, the phone was dead and then went to the voicemail.
He described Mr Jenkinson as 'a big guy with a big heart,' who helped out during the height of the NSW Northern Rivers' flood crisis last year.
'He did a lot of charity work, we did the floods down in Ballina and saved a lot of people,' Mr Taylor told Sunrise on Tuesday.
The pilot transported food, water and other essential items to flood survivors who were cut off from their community for days.
'He is the best of the best. I don't know what else to say.'
The main body of the destroyed helicopter is secured by workers from a Queensland towing company
The crashed chopper is lifted in the air as crews work to extract it from the sandbank as the tide sets in
The wreckage is carefully loaded onto the back of a truck as the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed initial findings from their investigation on Tuesday
A man is seen on the phone by a Sea World chopper as emergency services and officers from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigated the circumstances of the crash
The man inspects the interior of the wrecked Sea World helicopter on Tuesday as crews worked on recovering the remnants
Mr Jenkinson was the chief pilot at Sea World helicopters and 'loved' his job, Mr Taylor said.
'He was so good at what he did. He was on point, I don't understand what's happened,' Mr Taylor said.
'It was his life. It was everything to him.
'I don't think he had any other hobbies. That was it. That was everything for him.'
'Above
