The off-duty nurse was keen to help the Sea World helicopter horror victims

An off-duty nurse desperate to help victims of the deadly Sea World helicopter crash that killed four could only watch in horror.

The two helicopters collided in mid-air Monday at Main Beach on the Gold Coast in front of hundreds of shocked holidaymakers.

Local nurse Cecilia Marchisella was on the beach with her son around 2pm Monday during the crash.

Queensland nurse Cecilia Marchisella was on the beach with her son when the helicopter crash happened around 2pm on Monday and said she “just wanted to help but I couldn’t”.

Four people died when two helicopters collided in mid-air near Sea World Drive in Main Beach on January 2 while hundreds of tourists stood helplessly by

Ash Jenkins (pictured with his wife) was the pilot of the helicopter that crashed, killing him and three other passengers

Ms Marchisella said she felt “compelled” to pay tribute to the victims after seeing a Facebook post about the memorial on Tuesday.

She was the first person to bring an offering to the dedicated floral tribute site at Broadwater Parklands, accompanied by her son and mother, laying a bouquet of sunflowers.

“I just really feel for these people and their families,” she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Ms Marchisella said witnessing the event affected her more than she expected.

“As a nurse, I felt like if I could have gotten there, I could have helped in some way,” she said.

“I think that hit me really hard. I feel like I just wanted to help, but I couldn’t.”

One of the two helicopters crashed, killing the pilot, two British tourists and another New South Wales woman at the scene. A 10-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries

British couple Ron and Diane Hughes were killed when the two helicopters collided, forcing one to crash

The collision resulted in one of the planes crashing onto a sandbar, killing pilot Ash Jenkinson, who grew up in the United Kingdom’s West Midlands before moving to Australia.

Two British tourists – a 57-year-old woman and an 85-year-old man – who are believed to be a married couple – and another 36-year-old woman from NSW also died at the scene.

The second helicopter managed to land successfully on a sandbar on the Broadwater, with only minor injuries to the six on board.

Gold Coast Council said the “tragedy on the Broadwater has understandably led to an outpouring of grief in our community”.

The Council encouraged anyone wishing to place floral tributes to do so in a designated area in Broadwater Parklands, south of Southport Pier, near the Great Lawn.

According to initial investigations, the crash happened as one helicopter landed and another took off near Sea World Drive in Main Beach.

A special memorial has been set up in Broadwater Parklands, south of Southport Pier (pictured), for members of the public wishing to pay tribute to the victims of the accident

New South Wales mother Vanessa Tadros (pictured right) was the fourth victim to be killed in the tragic incident

The crashed plane had seven occupants on board, while the second plane that landed on the Broadwater sandbar contained six occupants, including the pilot.

The helicopters were operated by a separate company to the popular resort.

Footage from the moments before the crash shows the two helicopters closing in as frightened witnesses shouted “No!” when he realized the plane’s fate.

A 10-year-old boy, also from Glenmore Park, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Queensland Police said Operation Victor Sandlewood, made up of detectives from Gold Coast Criminal Investigation and Accident Forensic Unit, was assisting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in the investigation.

Authorities are urging witnesses to come forward, particularly those who had video of the crash and had not yet spoken to investigators.

Gold Coast Council said the Department of Communities and the Red Cross will be on hand at the Broadwater Floral Memorial to support the public. The Community Recovery Hotline has also been activated.

Anyone wishing to place flowers directly in the Broadwater was asked to remove all packaging.