The names of the Britons killed in a mid-air collision between two helicopters on Australia’s Gold Coast have been released.
Diane Hughes, 57, and her husband Ron, 65, were from Liverpool and married last year. Queensland Police said he was on holiday.
The pilot and another passenger also died in Monday’s crash, which occurred when one helicopter was taking off from a sandbar and another was landing.
Three people, including two children, were seriously injured and are undergoing treatment in hospital.
In a statement to JEE News, 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 during 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 heartbreaking time.”
Australian media reported that 36-year-old Vanessa Tedros was also killed and her 10-year-old son was seriously injured in the crash.
The fourth victim was Ashley Jenkinson, 40, a veteran SeaWorld helicopter pilot who lived in the area.
Mr Jenkinson was a “big man with a big heart”, a friend was quoted as saying by local media.
The cause of the crash, which happened near the SeaWorld resort about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Brisbane, is not yet known.
Both helicopters were operating sightseeing flights to the resort.
Its owner, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, has apologized and said SeaWorld Helicopters was an independent operator.
Officials say it happened less than 20 seconds after the helicopter took off.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said all those killed and seriously injured were in the climbing helicopter, which crashed moments after its main rotor blade collided with the cockpit of another aircraft. It was destroyed.
The second helicopter landed directly on the sand bank. Five of the six people on board suffered minor injuries.
Air Safety Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the landing was a “remarkable success” because the helicopter was damaged “where the pilot was sitting”.
“We’re very fortunate that we’re not standing here with more deaths.”
