New details emerge of Sea World helicopter crash as survivors break down in ... trends now
Survivors of the Sea World helicopter disaster have broken down in tears as they recall the terrifying details of the crash - and reveal they are still finding glass and carbon fibres in their bodies one month later.
Two couples - Elmarie Steenberg and husband Riaan, and Edward and Marle Swart - were four of nine passengers who survived the tragic crash on the Gold Coast on January 2.
The four broke down in tears on Sunday as they revealed shocking new details and relived the heartbreaking moments where they feared for their lives.
Elmarie Steenberg (right) closed her eyes before the fatal impact of the two choppers colliding
Ms Steenberg and Ms Swart (pictured in hospital after the crash) are still finding shards of glass and carbon fibre in their bodies one month later
Speaking to 60 Minutes on Sunday night, Ms Steenberg recalled the terrifying moment she saw the other helicopter beneath theirs and knew they were 'in serious trouble.'
'I said "Please, God, help us", and then I heard the explosion,' she said.
Ms Steenberg said she had closed her eyes when the aircrafts collided, and when she opened them she saw her friend Marle had 'blood running from her'.
'When I saw the sea under us I was like, "Oh, we are going to die today", she said.
Ms Steenberg pictured recovering in hospital after the helicopter crash
Four people died when one of the helicopters plunged into a sandbank after its main rotor detached
Ms Steenberg and Ms Swart said they were still discovering pieces of shattered glass and carbon fibres lodged in their bodies a month on from the crash.
'That makes [me] feel sad,' she said.
'I just want it out of my body because it reminds [me] of the day.'
Ms Steenberg gave an emotional recollection of the events of the January 2 helicopter crash
They four had been holidaying on the Gold Coast from their home in Auckland when the two Eurocopter EC130s collided over the theme park about 2pm.
Their helicopter managed to regain control and landed with all passengers surviving, some having suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Four people died when the other helicopter plunged into a sandbank after its main rotor detached: Vanessa Tadros, 36, British newlyweds Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, and chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40.
Three other passengers were rushed to hospital in serious conditions: Vanessa's son Nicholas Tadros, 10, Winnie De Silva, 33, and her son, Leon, 9.
Nicholas Tadros (pictured) , 10, miraculously woke from his coma for more than a week after being placed on life support Gold Coast University
