A CHILLING new clip of the infamous Sea World double chopper crash, that tragically killed a British couple, has emerged.
The footage was played to the victims’ families in court amid an ongoing inquest into the cause of the fatal incident.
Pilot Ashley Jenkinson, Vanessa Tadros from New South Wales, Australia and Brit couple Ron and Diane Hughes were killed in the crash, while three passengers sustained critical injuries.
The horror incident, which took place on January 2, 2023, saw one Sea World Helicopter collide with another that was landing from a joy flight near the theme par.
Chilling video showed the helicopter cruising over the water before smashing into the incoming aircraft.
The clip then cut to CCTV showing the helicopter, piloted by Jenkinson, plunging to the ground.
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More than 30 witnesses are expected to take the stand during the two-week long proceedings.
Survivor Winnie de Silva told the court she booked the helicopter ride in the “spur-of-the-moment” for herself and her son during a trip to Sea World.
Recounting the terrifying moment the two aircraft collided, she said she heard a “bang” before everything began shaking uncontrollably.
She told the court: “Once I heard the bang, and shaking started happening, and things started falling on our faces, that’s when I realised we weren’t going to be safe … the shaking was just terrible,” Ms De Silva told the court.
“When it started shaking, I was so worried, I was holding my son.
“It was steaming in a way that was so uncomfortable, I just remember closing my eyes and telling my son to do the same.”
When she regained consciousness, she noticed she was trapped under a piece of the helicopter and screamed for help.
“There was hot [machinery] on my body, and I was screaming for help,” the court heard.
Fellow passenger Jessie Maya told the court he was “in shock” but doesn’t remember much from the incident.
He said: “It was a big blur for me, once the collision hit, I really don’t know much. I don’t know how I got out of the helicopter.”
Maya was filming at the time of the crash and his video formed part of the montage played in court.
Families of the victims were offered the chance to leave before the video started.
Investigators are probing why the pilots apparently did not see each other until it was too late.
They believe the main rotor blade of Ash’s chopper – which was airborne for less than 20 seconds – struck the front cockpit of the descending aircraft.
Five of the six on board were cut by shards from the smashed windscreen, but the pilot managed to land alongside the wreck of the other chopper.
Sunbathers, boaters and jet ski riders then raced to help the victims, police said.
“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 of the Queensland Police Service said.
“People on jet skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.
“It’s a difficult scene, 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.”
At least 13 people required treatment following the tragedy.
Angus Mitchell, head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said the loss of the rotor blade sent Ash’s copter into an “uncontrolled fall”.
He said: “That led to the main rotor in the gearbox separating from the main helicopter, which then had no lift and has fallen heavily to the ground.”
He added it was “quite remarkable” that one of the helicopters had managed to land, and the tragedy could have been “far worse.”
Witness Emma Burch told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “They clipped each other.
“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.”
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Another witness said: “I heard a bang and saw smoke billowing from one of the choppers.
“It was smoking and wobbling to the ground.”