Four people are dead, three fighting for their lives, and others injured after two helicopters collided near the Sea World theme park as horrified holidaymakers watched on.
Debris showered down over the Broadwater on the Gold Coast before the crippled aircraft spiralled into a sandbank about 2pm local time on Monday.
Queensland Ambulance confirmed four people were dead, three fighting for life, and another four rushed to hospital.
Three people are feared dead after two helicopters collided in mid-air near the Sea World on the Gold Coast theme park as horrified holidaymakers watched on
Photos showed at least one of the two choppers was a Sea World helicopter tour aircraft
Paramedics and police on the scene on Monday afternoon (pictured)
Witnesses told Daily Mail Australia one of the helicopters was coming in to land when it clipped the rotor of the other aircraft that was taking off.
Emma Burch, another witness, had the same account of how the accident unfolded.
‘From what we saw one was taking off, the other landing. They clipped each other,’ she said.
‘Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart.
‘It’s just awful. Everyone is in shock.’
One of the helicopters crashed into the sandbar, leaving wreckage across the shore with the main rotor embedded in the sand some distance from the rest of the wreck.
Four onboard died, including the pilot, while another three, a woman and two young boys, are in critical condition.
The other helicopter managed to land on the sandbar nearby, with six people on board, some of whom suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The two helicopters involved in the collision can be seen on the sandbank – with crashing into the sand and the other landing upright
Marine Rescue raced to the sandbar, seen in front of one helicopter with a Sea World logo
Queensland Ambulance said there were 13 patients in total, six in one helicopter and seven in the other.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport Duty captain Matt Fitzpatrick said three units were dispatched to the scene.
‘There are multiple helicopters involved and we do not know the state of those who were aboard,’ he said.
Photos showed at least one of the two choppers – the one that landed without crashing – was a Sea World helicopter tour aircraft.
Paramedics transported one patient to a waiting helicopter to be airlifted to hospital
Witnesses expressed their shock at the mid-air collision.
‘I heard a bang and saw smoke billowing from one of the choppers. It was smoking and wobbling to the ground,’ one witness told Daily Mail Australia.
‘One person was asking whether it was part of the Sea World show.’
A distraught woman and child were seen at the helipad while part of the theme park was shut down so patrons couldn’t look out at the crash site.
Others said watching the accident unfold was ‘beyond horrible’.
‘My daughter saw them. People on both. Landed on the sand not in SeaWorld thank goodness. Just praying for all,’ one said.
‘We heard a loud noise and saw bits of debris flying,’ another wrote online.
Emergency services rushed to the wreckage hoping to find survivors, but grave fears are held for all those on board
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it has already commenced an investigation into the collision.
‘Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB’s Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site from Monday afternoon,’ ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
‘During the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site.’
‘Investigators will also recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra, gather any available recorded data for analysis, and interview witnesses and other involved parties.
The ATSB is asking for witnesses of the crash to contact them immediately.