>
Graphic photos show survivors of a doomed Sea World helicopter crash holding hands in the cockpit while covered in blood, just moments after the mid-air collision killed a pilot and three tourists.
Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart were visiting Queensland’s Gold Coast from their home in Auckland with their husbands on January 2 when the two Eurocopter EC130s collided over the theme park around 2pm.
Four people were killed when the other helicopter plunged into a sandbank after its main rotor detached: Vanessa Tadros, 36, British newlyweds Ron Hughes, 65, and his wife Diane, 57. years old, and chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40.
Three other passengers who were rushed to hospital in serious condition included Vanessa’s son Nicholas Tadros, 10, and Leon de Silva, 9.
Both were on life support, along with Leon’s mother, Winnie, 33, who suffered fractures.
The confrontational images, published by the Steenberg and Swart families, showed the aftermath of the accident, when the pilot Michael James managed to land on a sandbank in Southport Broadwater.
Pictured: Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart sit inside a helicopter after it collided with another on January 2.
Good Samaritans can be seen helping survivors get out of the helicopter on January 2.
In one photo, Steenberg and Swart could hold hands in terror as they sat at the front of the disabled plane.
Others showed Steenberg sitting in shallow water washing her blood-soaked legs in seawater and a pair of thongs on the beach, dripping with blood.
Two additional photos showed the women recovering in hospital before they were released last week.
They plan to return to Auckland with their husbands, Riaan Steenberg and Edward Swart.
In a statement, the families said they sent footage from inside the doomed helicopter to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators, and were “distraught” when it was broadcast on Channel 7.
‘We don’t know how [Seven] obtained it, but it was only provided to investigators as part of their investigations at the accident scene and afterwards,” they said.
Elmarie Steenberg washed the blood from her legs in the sea (left). A pair of blood-soaked thongs could be seen on the beach (right)
Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart recovered together in hospital after the accident (pictured)
“This was intentionally kept out of the public domain out of respect for everyone affected by this tragic accident and it is extremely traumatic.”
The families also expressed their condolences to the loved ones of the victims who lost their lives and to those who are still in the hospital.
‘Our hearts are deeply saddened by the loss. This has been traumatic for us as survivors, and we cannot imagine the terrible sadness their families and loved ones must feel,” they said.
“We continue to pray for Nicholas, Leon and Winnie as they are still in hospital with serious injuries and are mourning the loss of Ash Jenkinson.”
They described their pilot, Mr James, as a “hero”, along with good Samaritans who rushed to help, including an off-duty paramedic.
The Steenberg and Swart families (pictured together at the hospital) expressed their condolences to the families of the other victims.
James was released from the hospital on Thursday afternoon, where he was interviewed by police.
Nicholas remains on life support at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Her father, Mr Tadros, who lost his wife in the accident, told the mail that your child would be on a ventilator for some time.
I have incredible support by my side, although you can only imagine the nightmare we are living through. I’m not in a good headspace at all,’ she said.
Meanwhile, Leon woke up from his induced coma on Thursday and was able to give his mother the okay during a video call in what has been described as a miracle.
“He gave me a ‘thumbs up’ and one of his big beautiful smiles,” he said, in a written statement from his bed at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Survivors of the Sea World helicopter crash Winnie de Silva and her son Leon. Ms De Silva revealed that Leon’s first words outside of his comma were ‘my leg’
Leon has spent the last three days in an induced coma at Children’s Hospital of Queensland.
‘He said two words, ‘my leg’, which gives me hope that he is getting stronger every day.
“With more surgeries scheduled for me next week, my entire focus is getting better so that in the next two weeks I can be with Leon and support his recovery.
“I can’t wait to hug my beautiful, brave boy!”
The De Silva family, including Winnie’s husband Neil, had decided to splurge on the helicopter ride while on vacation from Geelong West in Victoria.
De Silva was not aboard the helicopter with his wife and son when he saw it take off from the helipad, before colliding with the blades of a second landing helicopter.
Local authorities and the Australian Transport Safety Office in the early stages of their investigation of the incident have not speculated on the cause of the accident.
Transport Security Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the initial evidence-gathering phase of the investigation would last six to eight weeks.
Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart were visiting Queensland’s Gold Coast on January 2 when the two Eurocopter EC130s collided over the theme park (accident image)