Sea World helicopter crash: chief pilot Ash Jenkinson among four dead on Gold Coast

Tributes are flowing for the pilot who was killed along with three passengers in a horrific collision between two Sea World tour helicopters on the Gold Coast in front of hundreds of holidaymakers.

Ash Jenkinson, 40, was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, which operates tours from the popular theme park, and was behind the controls of a plane that crashed into a sandbar on the Broadwater on Monday afternoon.

Three other passengers are fighting for their lives and several others were injured after the mid-air collision – although the second plane managed to regain control and land upright with the survivors on board.

Video from the helipad shows a vacationer and his young son watching the helicopter take off and then within seconds cruised into the flight path of the second plane – with the child asking, “Will it crash?”.

Witnesses rushed to the crash site – just yards from the heavily crowded theme park and marina – and frantically called emergency services before pulling them out of the wreckage.

Queensland Ambulance has confirmed four people have died, three are fighting for their lives and another four have been hospitalized.

Ash Jenkinson (pictured) was behind the controls of the helicopter that dived into the sandbar

Three people are feared dead after two helicopters collided in mid-air near Sea World at the Gold Coast theme park while horrified holidaymakers looked on

Photos showed that at least one of the two helicopters was a Sea World helicopter tour aircraft

Paramedics and police at the scene on Monday afternoon (pictured)

Witnesses told the Daily Mail Australia that one of the helicopters was on its way to land when it struck the rotor of the other plane taking off.

Emma Burch, another witness, had the same account of how the accident unfolded.

“From what we’ve seen, one took off and the other landed. They circumcised each other,’ she said.

“A massive bang was heard through the middle of Broadwater Tourist Park, then the whoosh as whoever was losing control hit the water and broke apart.

“It’s just awful. Everyone is in shock.”

One of the helicopters crashed into the sandbar, leaving debris on the shore with the main rotor embedded in the sand some distance from the rest of the wreckage.

Four on board died, including the pilot, while three others, a woman and two boys, are in critical condition.

The other helicopter managed to land on the sandbar nearby with six people on board, some of whom sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

On the sandbar, the two helicopters involved in the collision can be seen – with the other crashing into the sand and the other landing upright

Marine Rescue raced to the sandbar, which could be seen in front of a helicopter with a Sea World logo

A young child was transported from the crash site by boat and then placed on the RACQ Lifeflight helicopter and taken to the hospital in serious condition

Lifeguards and police officers board one of several ships speeding toward the scene

Queensland Ambulance said there were 13 patients in total, six in one helicopter and seven in the other.

Matt Fitzpatrick, captain of the Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport Duty, said three units were dispatched to the scene.

“Several helicopters are involved and we do not know the condition of those who were on board,” he said.

Photos showed that at least one of the two helicopters — the one that landed without crashing — was a Sea World helicopter tour aircraft.

The company issued a statement hours after the crash.

“Sea World Helicopters (SWH) has expressed its shock and deepest sympathy for those involved in the Sea World helicopter accident on the Gold Coast, Broadwater in Southport this afternoon,” said a spokesman for Sea World Helicopters.

“We and the entire flying community are shocked by what has happened and our sincere condolences go out to everyone involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased.

“We are working with all authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police. As this is now a police investigation, we are unable to provide any further information at this time.’

Paramedics transported a patient to a waiting helicopter to be flown to the hospital

The front of Sea World’s helicopter, which was still upright, was badly damaged

The helicopter taking off is understood to have clipped another helicopter above it and then crashed into the sand with the dive

Witnesses expressed shock at the mid-air collision.

“I heard a bang and saw smoke coming out of one of the helicopters. It smoked and wobbled to the ground,” a witness told Daily Mail Australia.

“One person asked if it was part of the Sea World show.”

A distraught woman and child were seen at the helipad while part of the theme park was closed to prevent guests from looking at the crash site.

Others said it was “beyond horrific” to watch the accident.

‘My daughter saw them. people on both. Landed on the sand, thank goodness, not at SeaWorld. I’m just praying for everyone,’ said one.

“We heard a loud noise and saw debris flying around,” wrote another online.

Gold Coast resident Tor Kumpel was swimming in broad water with his wife when he witnessed the collision shortly after a helicopter took off.

“It was just a helicopter that crashed. The one who would come. It was horrible to see,” he told The Courier Mail.

“The (pilot) who ended up in the other one. You deserve a medal. It took a little while to stabilize but they did it.

Blue Mountains resident Amii McDermot, 42, was waiting in line for Sea World’s Vortex ride when she saw the crash unfold.

“There was debris everywhere, the tail of one fell off and the helicopter crashed into the ground at full speed.”

She said her two younger children don’t realize what they saw, but her two older ones are quite upset.

Investigators are trying to collect evidence before the tide covers the sandbar

Officials are searching the sand for debris that could help investigate the cause

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it had already opened an investigation into the collision.

“Traffic safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are being deployed from the ATSB offices in Brisbane and Canberra and are expected to arrive at the scene of the accident from Monday afternoon,” said ATSB Chief Inspector Angus Mitchell.

“During the evidentiary phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site.”

“Investigators will also recover all relevant components for further investigation at ATSB’s engineering facilities in Canberra, collect all available recorded data for analysis and interview witnesses and other parties involved.

The ATSB asks witnesses to the crash to contact them immediately.

Rescue services rushed to the wreck in hopes of finding survivors, but everyone on board is deeply concerned