1 year ago
59
At slightest 4 radical were killed aft 2 helicopters collided midair adjacent the Sea World taxable parkland connected Australia’s eastbound Gold Coast connected Monday, Queensland Police said. Eight others were injured, 3 critically.
The collision occurred arsenic 1 chopper was landing and different was taking off, constabulary said. The clang took spot astir 2 p.m. other Seaworld Drive, the main entree constituent to the Sea World resort, successful Main Beach, the constabulary said, citing preliminary information. The country is fashionable with tourists and families, and would astir apt person been busy, since Monday is simply a nationalist vacation and schools are closed for the Australian summer.
One of the helicopters crashed and 4 passengers connected committee were declared dormant astatine the scene, portion 3 others were critically injured and were transported to a hospital, constabulary said.
The different helicopter, which was carrying six passengers, landed connected a sandbank, according to police. Five of the passengers were taken to a infirmary to beryllium treated for insignificant injuries, and 1 idiosyncratic was not physically injured, they said.
The Queensland Ambulance Service said 8 radical were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital and 1 idiosyncratic was taken to Queensland Children’s Hospital. Police told journalists astatine the tract that it was initially difficult for exigency services to entree the sandbank and scope those injured oregon killed successful the crash.
Authorities did not uncover the names oregon ages of the victims.
#FinalUpdate - Eight patients were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital, and 1 diligent was transported to Queensland Children’s Hospital pursuing the earlier incidental astatine #MainBeach.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) January 2, 2023The Australian Broadcasting Corporation cited an unnamed spokesperson for Sea World Helicopters arsenic confirming that it owned some helicopters progressive successful the crash.
“We and the full flying assemblage are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences spell to each those progressive and particularly the loved ones and household of the deceased,” the spokesperson said, adding that Sea World Helicopters is cooperating with instrumentality enforcement successful their investigation. The institution did not respond to a Monday night request for remark from The Washington Post.
Village Roadshow Theme Parks, which operates Sea World, said that Sea World Helicopters is an autarkic operator, but that it is moving with authorities and supporting “team members who person been emotionally affected by the tragedy.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called it an “unthinkable tragedy.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nation “is shocked by the quality of the unspeakable and tragic chopper incidental contiguous connected the Gold Coast.”
“My thoughts are with each those affected, including archetypal responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving,” helium added.
The Queensland Police’s Forensic Crash Unit and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are investigating the incident.
Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said successful a statement that the ATSB volition people a preliminary study astir its findings successful astir six to 8 weeks, and a last study volition travel later.
“However, should immoderate captious information issues beryllium identified astatine immoderate signifier during the people of the investigation, the ATSB volition instantly notify applicable parties truthful due information enactment tin beryllium taken,” Mitchell said.
English (US)