This picture produced from a video exhibits sand financial institution with crashed helicopter on Gold Coast, Australia Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Two helicopters collided Monday afternoon over the Australian seaside. (Australian Broadcasting Corp. by way of AP)

AP

cover caption

toggle caption

AP

This picture produced from a video exhibits sand financial institution with crashed helicopter on Gold Coast, Australia Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Two helicopters collided Monday afternoon over the Australian seaside. (Australian Broadcasting Corp. by way of AP)

AP

MELBOURNE, Australia — Two helicopters collided in an Australian vacationer hotspot Monday afternoon, killing 4 passengers and critically injuring three others in a crash that drew emergency support from beachgoers having fun with the water through the southern summer time.

One helicopter appeared to have been taking off and the opposite touchdown once they collided close to the Sea World theme park in Main Beach, a northern seaside on the Gold Coast, Gary Worrell, Queensland state police appearing inspector, stated at a information convention.

One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, however particles from the opposite was unfold throughout an space police described as troublesome to entry.

The useless and three most severely injured individuals had been all passengers within the crashed helicopter.

“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,” Worrell stated.

“(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.”

Passengers within the different helicopter, which misplaced its windscreen within the crash, are additionally receiving medical help.

Footage of the crash confirmed a helicopter shortly after takeoff being clipped by one other helicopter flying over the water.

A witness named John informed Melbourne radio station 3AW that patrons at Sea World heard the crash.

He stated workers on the theme park moved swiftly to shut off areas closest to the crash.

“There was a massive, massive bang,” he stated. “It was just huge. 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.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated the accident was an “unthinkable tragedy.

“My deepest sympathies are with every of the households and everybody affected by this horrible accident,” she stated.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell stated an investigation into the reason for the crash was underway.

Queensland Ambulance Service stated earlier that 13 individuals had been being assessed for accidents.

The Gold Coast area is at its busiest in January, the height time for holidays in Australia’s summer time.