Australia helicopter collision: Four dead in mid-air incident over Gold Coast

Four radical person died aft a mid-air collision betwixt 2 helicopters adjacent Seaworld connected Australia's Gold Coast.

The 9 different passengers aboard the 2 craft were each treated for injuries, Queensland's ambulance work said.

Three passengers - a pistillate and 2 young boys - person been taken to infirmary successful captious condition.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has said it volition investigate.

The collision took spot astir 14:00 section clip (04:00 GMT) on a tourer portion known arsenic Main Beach, astir 75km (47 miles) southbound of Brisbane.

Gary Worrell of Queensland constabulary told reporters that 1 chopper appeared to beryllium taking disconnected arsenic the different 1 was landing.

He said the 4 deaths and 3 superior injuries had each occurred successful the aforesaid aircraft.

"It's a hard scene," helium said. "Due to the country it's located, connected the soil bank, it was hard to summation access, to get our exigency services to the country to negociate it appropriately."

Images from the clang tract amusement debris strewn astir the country and a mangled chopper seemingly lying upside down other the Seaworld resort.

The different chopper has the fashionable marine park's logo emblazoned connected its side, and appears to person safely landed aft the collision.

Seaworld Drive, the main entree roadworthy to the marine park, has been closed disconnected to postulation by section police.

They urged motorists and pedestrians to debar the country arsenic archetypal responders inspect the scene.

Investigators from the ATSB's offices successful Brisbane and Canberra are being deployed to the country to stitchery evidence, analyse the wreckage and interrogation witnesses.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell has besides asked eyewitnesses who saw the collision oregon the helicopters successful formation to interaction investigators.

A preliminary study volition beryllium made nationalist successful the adjacent six to 8 weeks, with a last study to travel erstwhile the probe is complete, helium added.

The Gold Coast portion is presently successful its highest tourer play with children connected their summertime breaks.