One of the youngest victims of the horrific Sea World helicopter crash has miraculously woken from his coma and grabbed his dad’s hand.
Nicholas Tadros, 10, has been fighting for his life in hospital since January 2 when two Sea World helicopters collided mid-air on the Gold Coast.
It resulted in the deaths of Nicholas’s mother, Vanessa, 36, along with British newlyweds, Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and pilot, Ash Jenkinson, 40.
Nicholas was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital and has been on life support.
Sea World crash victim Nicholas Tadros (centre), 10, has held his father’s hand in a major sign of his miraculous recovery after being on life support (pictured, Nicholas’s dad Simon and mother Vanessa, who tragically died in the crash)
He went through six hours of surgery last Tuesday to fix the broken bones in his legs and left hand after he was transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
Nicholas’s father, Simon Tadros, revealed in a Facebook post that his son had been taken off life support a ‘few days ago’.
‘Nicky has been off life support now for a few days and his body has responded very well, still on the ventilator machine to support his breathing,’ he wrote.
‘They have lowered his sedation medicine at times to see if he is responsive and he has woken up and able to respond to some questions with a nod or shake of the head.’
Simon said that Nicholas was ‘also able to hold my hand’.
He has still been unable to move his legs, with hospital staff informing Simon that that was possible due to the state of the bones in his son’s legs.
Nicholas’s father Simon revealed his son had responded well after being taken off life support and was able to answer questions with a nod or shake of the head
‘Due to the pain and distress and anxiety levels they have had to sedate him again for now,’ Simon continued.
He explained that Nicholas still had a ‘couple of surgeries next week’ including ‘one on Tuesday and a major operation on his Right ankle on Friday’.
He concluded his update by thanking those who have expressed their support or love or have prayed for his son.
‘Please continue to pray for Nicholas, he has a long hard road ahead of him,’ Simon added.
Nicholas underwent five surgeries in a marathon six-hour operation on Tuesday – eight days after the chopper he was in collided with another helicopter and plummeted into a sand bar.
Nicholas went through six hours of surgery last Tuesday to fix the broken bones in his legs and left hand after he was transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital
A family friend shared an update from Nicholas Tadros’s father before the major operation and urged people to pray for the boy
Nicholas was facing a monumental health battle after being pulled from the fiery wreckage, especially when jet fuel was discovered in his lungs.
His father revealed details of the marathon operation on Monday, saying it would be ‘a major test on his body, lungs and heart’.
‘I know it’s a bit late now to ask people to pray for tomorrow, I always miss the prayer sessions with you, it’s too full on for me at the moment.’
Mr Bakhos also urged people to pray for Nicholas, saying he had already had ‘some miracles’ with his improving condition and surviving the ‘high-risk’ transfer to the hospital in Brisbane.
He hoped the prayers would give the boy the ‘strength and protection’ needed to endure the surgeries.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is probing the crash and expects to complete the investigation next year
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is probing the crash and expects to complete the investigation between July and September 2024.
Video footage from one of the choppers shows a passenger trying to warn pilot Michael James about the oncoming helicopter before the collision.
British-born pilot Mr Jenkinson was farewelled by family and friends at a funeral service at Southport last Friday.