British couple killed in Australia helicopter crash

The British victims of a mid-air collision betwixt 2 helicopters connected Australia's Gold Coast person been named.

Diane Hughes, 57, and her 65-year-old hubby Ron were from Liverpool and had lone got joined past year. They were connected holiday, Queensland Police said.

Three others, including 2 children, were severely injured and are successful hospital.

The origin of the crash, which happened adjacent the Sea World edifice astir 80km (50 miles) southeast of Brisbane, is not yet known.

Officials accidental it happened little than 20 seconds aft 1 of the helicopters had taken off.

All those killed and critically injured were successful the ascending helicopter, which crashed wrong seconds aft its main rotor leaf struck the cockpit of the different aircraft, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said.

The 2nd chopper landed upright connected the sandbank. Five of the six radical connected committee suffered insignificant injuries.

The landing was a "remarkable achievement" fixed the chopper was damaged "where the aviator was sitting", said aerial information commissioner Angus Mitchell.

"We are precise fortunate that we're not lasting present with acold much deaths."

Footage from the country showed wreckage strewn crossed the area.

One eyewitness has said helium heard "a large bang" and saw "pieces of shrapnel flying everywhere".

The ATSB said it would behaviour interviews and meticulously scour the helicopters, clang scene, footage, and different grounds earlier establishing what had caused the crash.

It called connected eyewitnesses to travel forward.

Police said vessel operators had rushed to assistance aft the clang astatine astir 14:00 section clip (04:00 GMT), including by giving CPR.

Rescue teams faced challenges accessing the sandbank and aboriginal securing grounds amid tidal changes, officials said.

The ATSB's preliminary study is owed successful six to 8 weeks.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the state had been near shocked by the "terrible and tragic incident".

The Gold Coast is simply a fashionable vacation destination and hundreds of radical are apt to person seen the accident.

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