Heartbreaking footage has emerged showing the moment a helicopter pilot was tapped on the shoulder just moments before colliding with another helicopter.
As reported by news.com.au, the devastating tragedy occurred over Australia's Gold Coast on Monday afternoon (January 2), near the Sea World resort in Queensland. Along with Sea World Helicopters pilot Ash Jenkinson, British newlyweds Ron and Dianne Hughes and Sydney mom Vanessa Tadros all lost their lives in the collision.
Three others - including two children - were left seriously injured.
Per BBC News, air safety commissioner Angus Mitchell says investigators are still attempting to figure exactly what caused the crash.
"What we do need to know now is what was occurring inside those two cockpits at the time," Mitchell said.
Queensland Police have said that the crash occurred as one helicopter was descending for a landing, while the other was taking off. All of those who died were in the helicopter that was ascending.
Now, Australia's 7News has shared footage taken from inside one of the helicopters.
Onboard the helicopter was pilot Michael James, New Zealand residents Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart, and an unnamed passenger.
The footage reportedly shows the moment the helicopter was coming in to land, with one passenger in the backseat recording the scenery outside of the window.
However, after pointing at something outside, the passenger can be seen tapping the pilot on the shoulder and grabbing the pilot’s seat.
The moment can be seen in the news report below - Warning, some people will find the footage distressing:One of the passengers, Elmarie Steenberg, has since taken to Facebook to confirm that she was involved in the tragedy.
"I am still in hospital in the Gold Coast, recovering from my injuries," Elmarie wrote on Wednesday. "All I can say thank you to God for sparing all of us."
James was reportedly after to land the helicopter in an upright position on the sandbank. Five of the six people on board his helicopter escaped with minor injuries.
Watching the helicopters from the ground was husband and father Simon Tadros, who was forced to watch helplessly as the helicopter carrying wife Vanessa and their 10-year-old son collided with another
Vanessa lost her life in the crash, and son Nicholas was rushed to hospital and is currently on life support.
Writing on social media, the devastated father said: "I ask everyone to pray for the little man. He is on life support in a critical condition May God pull him back with me and make a good recovery."
The image below shows the last photo mom Vanessa took with her son before the crash:
One witness to the tragedy, Gold Coast resident Ron Drevlak, was walking his dog with his wife when the crash occurred overhead. He then rushed to help those onboard.
"The noise and the thud of it hitting the ground, I cannot get it out of my head,” Mr Drevlak told 7 News.