Two British people are among four who died after two helicopters collided in an Australian tourist hotspot.
Three other people are critically injured after the tragedy near the Sea World theme park at Main Beach on the Gold Coast.
One helicopter is believed to have been taking off and the other landing when they hit one another.
An FCDO spokesperson told Metro.co.uk this evening: ‘We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities.’
Their identities are not yet known.
But tributes have been paid to Ash Jenkinson, 40, chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters, who was killed alongside three passengers.
He has been remembered as ‘a legend’, who led efforts during the northern New South Wales floods last year.
The dead and three most seriously injured people were all passengers in the helicopter that crashed to the ground. The other landed safely on a sandbank.
One witness named John described hearing ‘a massive, massive bang’.
‘It was just huge’, he told Melbourne radio station 3AW. ‘I’m not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears.’
Witnesses desperately tried to help the injured as debris covered an area that police said was difficult to access.
‘Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down’, Gary Worrell, Queensland state police acting inspector, said.
‘(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.’
Sea World Helicopters, a separate company from the theme park, has expressed condolences to the families of those lost.
The firm is said to be co-operating with the authorities handling the crash investigation.
The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash.
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