Four people, including two UK citizens, were killed when two helicopters collided in mid-air near Seaworld on Australia’s Gold Coast at around 2pm local time.
The accident is understood to have happened as one helicopter was taking off and one was landing and the four victims were all on the same helicopter.
Three other passengers from that helicopter are in a critical condition.
The six passengers on the second helicopter escaped with minor injuries as the helicopter was able to make an emergency landing coming to rest near the other helicopter.
Images shared widely on social media appear to show debris from both helicopters on the sandbank and one of the two aircraft upside down and heavily damaged.
Gary Worrell of the Queensland Police Service said that it was “a difficult scene,” adding “Due to the area it’s located, on the sand bank, it was difficult to gain access, to get our emergency services to the scene to manage it appropriately.”
The Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) has confirmed it is now investigating the accident and has asked for eyewitnesses to contact them.
