Key Points
- Four people were killed after two Sea World Helicopters hit each other in mid-air on Monday afternoon.
- A nine-year-old boy is in an induced coma and remains a "major concern", his stepfather says.
The stepfather of a boy critically injured alongside his mother when two helicopters collided during a Gold Coast joy flight says the nine-year-old is in an induced coma and remains a major concern.
Neil de Silva watched helplessly following the mid-air collision on Monday afternoon as his wife Winnie, 33, and stepson Leon, nine, were on board.
Leon has brain trauma, while Ms De Silva suffered two broken legs, a damaged left knee, a broken right shoulder and a broken collarbone in the crash.
While Winnie has regained consciousness, Mr de Silva says Leon remains a concern.
"Leon's the worst of the moment. He's in an induced coma because of head trauma and trauma injuries to his brain," Mr de Silva told Nine News on Wednesday.
"Winnie is slightly improving ... but our major concern is Leon, and when they wake him up ... that he's okay."
Anne Mwangi, a close friend of Ms de Silva, said Leon had been excited for the trip to Sea World.
"Winnie loves her boy so much, she lives for her son, and she wants the best for him," Ms Mwangi said.
"I mean every child wants to go to Sea World, he was looking forward, I've never seen Leon that happy."
An online fundraiser Mr de Silva set up to help pay for his wife and stepson's treatment and his Gold Coast accommodation while they recovered had raised more than $30,000 by Wednesday afternoon.
"It's tragic for Winnie and Leon, but they survived ... my heart goes out to the ones that didn't," Mr de Silva said.
Tributes flow for victims
Floral tributes and heartfelt messages lined the waterfront opposite Sea World on Wednesday, while several fundraisers have been set up by victims' loved ones, who say they are still coming to terms with accepting the tragedy.
Robert Comer was standing just metres away when the collision took place and had been planning on taking one of the following flights with his own family.
"I won't forget. There were two choppers in the air, metres away from us, how no more were injured is a miracle, but the silence as they fell was unforgettable," he said.
"It's hard to come to terms with. We were the last people to see the families, so my heart goes to those people surviving who have to live with this."
Four people were killed in the accident between the two Sea World Helicopters: pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, British nationals Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros, also known as Vanessa Geagea, 36.
Vanessa Tadros, 36, died after two Gold Coast Sea World Helicopters aircraft hit each other in mid-air on Monday afternoon. Source: Facebook
"I do ask that if everyone can please say a prayer for Nicky, so he can wake up and make a good recovery," Mr Tadros posted on social media on Tuesday night.
"He is in an induced coma on a life support machine to help him (breathe). He is in a very serious and critical state. I'm asking for all your prayers to bring my little man back to me."
One of the helicopters, which was carrying six people including the four who died, lost its main rotor blades and crashed heavily onto a sandbar.
The 52-year-old pilot of the second helicopter, Michael James, and four of his five passengers suffered shrapnel wounds when the cockpit was struck by the main rotor of the other aircraft.
A collision between two helicopters on Gold Coast killed four people and injured 13 others. Source: AAP / DAVE HUNT
That second helicopter's passengers included a West Australian woman and two New Zealand couples in their 40s who were travelling together.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash, and in particular what was happening inside the two cockpits at the point of impact.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said Mr Jenkinson's aircraft had taken off and was in the air for less than 20 seconds before its main rotor blades hit the cockpit of the second helicopter, which was coming in to land.
"Now, exactly whether that was the very first point of impact we're yet to determine," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"But that in itself has led to the main rotor and the gearbox separating from the main (Mr Jenkinson's) helicopter, which then had no lift, and has fallen heavily to the ground."
Both helicopters were salvaged on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Emma Kellaway and Tanya Dendrinos
