SeaWorld helicopter disaster: Doctors to amputate crash victim Nicholas Tadros’ foot
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A brave boy who survived the SeaWorld helicopter tragedy has been told by doctors that his right foot will need to be amputated.
Nicholas Tadros, 10, was aboard the doomed joy flight that crashed into another helicopter before plummeting onto a sandbar at the Gold Coast theme park on January 2.
The accident that left Nicholas in a coma, killed his mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, along with three other people.
He has since woken up and is now in a stable condition, but his road to recovery remains a massive struggle.
But her father, Simon Tadros, stayed by her side through the ordeal and revealed the last moment he shared with Vanessa and their son Nicholas before the plane took off, prompting TV presenter Allison Langdon to break down in tears.
10-year-old SeaWorld helicopter crash survivor Nicholas Tadros (pictured with his father Simon) was heartbreakingly told this week that his right foot could not be saved due to his injuries.
“I just gave them a hug and a kiss and said, ‘enjoy it… have fun,'” he told Aly Langdon on A Current Affair.
‘I’ll see you when you come back down.’
The doting father said he didn’t join the couple because of his fear of heights.
Minutes later, Mr. Tadros recalled hearing a “big bang” and could only watch in horror as the aircraft collided with another helicopter in the air.
It then plummeted onto a sandbar, killing Vanessa, British newlyweds Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57, and pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40.
Tadros remembered the moment when the detectives had informed him of the terrible news.
“Those were the worst words I’ve ever heard in my life,” he said.
‘I was terrified. I lost my wife. Losing my son too, that’s my whole life shattered, they’re all gone.
Tadros said his son Nicholas was “keeping his spirits up” despite “still struggling day by day”.
“He’s still trying to understand what really happened to him,” he said.
“She broke almost everything, top to bottom, you know, her arms, her sternum, her hips, her thighs, her legs, her lungs collapsing, she even inhaled some aviation fuel, so it caused problems with her lungs as well. “.
“The only thing that I think he didn’t really break was his right arm. How he survived is a miracle,” she added.
Vanessa Tadros (right) was among the four people who died when the helicopter crashed. Her son Nicholas (left) was seriously injured and is recovering in hospital.
The young man woke up from his coma and has been recovering in hospital after the accident. He has received a great deal of support from friends and family.
Nicholas was on the doomed joy flight that collided with another helicopter in the air before plummeting onto a sandbar on the Gold Coast on January 2.
Mr Tadros explained that it has been a “daily struggle” grieving his wife and seeing his son in hospital, but said the least he could do was be there for Nicholas.
She added that her son is a survivor who refuses to “give up” as he continues his recovery.
When Mr. Tadros told Langdon about the moment he informed Nicholas about his mother’s death, the TV presenter choked and put a hand to her chest.
“That poor boy… he’s still so fragile,” she said through tears.
It’s too much for a small child.
Nicholas has received a tremendous amount of support from friends, family and especially his karate gym in western Sydney.
Kazoku Academy of Martial Arts karate teacher Andrew Nasr spoke with Langdon about the young man’s love of martial arts.
Nasr recalled meeting Nicholas for the first time, where the boy asked him if he was going to get his black belt.
Nicholas, who is a martial arts enthusiast, received video messages from students and teachers in his karate class wishing him well and to “keep up your spirits.”
Current Affair presenter Allison Langdon (pictured) broke down in tears while speaking to Simon Tadros about the tragedy.
‘What do you say to the child? You are 100%,’ Nasr laughed.
I made him a promise and he will keep it. It’s probably the only thing he’s holding on to.
He added that Nicholas “loves his martial arts, he loves his (martial arts) family, he loves all these guys” and that when he is finally able to leave the hospital, he will be an honorary black belt.
He said that the first time he appeared in his class, he turned around and introduced himself to the other students as if he were “the kid that he is.”
The children from the karate class have raised money for the Tadros family and have sent video messages to Nicholas wishing him well in his recovery and to “keep up his spirits”.
“They love Nicky, they absolutely love him,” Nasr said.
Langdon also asked Mr. Nasr about Mr. Tadros, to which the karate teacher commented that he was “worried” about him.
“He doesn’t sleep, he’s with him (Nicholas) from six in the morning until 12 at night.”
He added that he was “angry” Mr Tadros still had to “worry about money to pay rent and bills” amid his grief and support for his son.
Mr Tadros (left with his wife Vanessa and son Nicholas) told Langdon that life has been a “daily struggle” as he stands by his son’s hospital bedside every day and grieves for his wife.
The boy’s karate teacher, Andrew Nasr (pictured right with Nicholas), commented on how Nicholas ‘loves his martial arts’ and his martial arts family. He remembered promising the boy that one day he would get his black belt from him.
“Simon is not looking for today or tomorrow, but for Nicky’s future.”
Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Office are looking into the crash, but a final verdict on what caused it is not expected until 2024.
SeaWorld Helicopters has suspended flights while investigations are carried out.
His karate teacher, Mr. Nasr, has set up a GoFundMe for Nicholas. you can donate here.