A DEVASTATED dad helplessly watched on as two helicopters crashed – killing his wife and leaving his son fighting for his life.
Simon Tadros has been left “totally shattered” after witnessing two tourist-filled choppers collide near a Sea World resort on the Gold Coast in Australia on Monday.
![Dad ‘totally shattered’ after watching SeaWorld helicopter crash that killed wife and left son, 10, fighting for life Dad ‘totally shattered’ after watching SeaWorld helicopter crash that killed wife and left son, 10, fighting for life](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/sydney-mother-identified-one-four-786210005-3.jpg?strip=all&w=324)
Vanessa Tadros was killed in the crash while her son Nicholas fights for his life in hospital[/caption]
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-four-people-dead-another-786048834.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The two helicopters crashed mid-air[/caption]
Four people were killed in the horror mid-air crash, including his wife Vanessa Tadros, 36.
Their ten-year-old son Nicholas was rushed to hospital, where he remains on life support.
Mr Tadros, from Sydney, posted on social media: “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.”
Family friend Rochelle Fajloun told how Mr Tadros saw the tragedy unfold.
She has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money help support the family and go towards Mrs Tadros’ funeral.
Ms Fajloun said: “Simon distressingly witnessed the accident unfold and is totally shattered.
“With all of the emotional pain that death brings, it can also bring significant financial burden.
“Any donations that can help the family during this difficult period will be most appreciated.
“Vanessa’s beautiful young son Nicholas is critically injured and on life support as he fights for his life in a Gold Coast hospital, with his father by his side.”
Among the four victims were pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, and Brit couple – Ron Hughes, 65, and his wife Diane, 57.
Three others including two children are fighting for their lives.
Ron and Diane, from Liverpool, are understood to have been visiting Ron’s daughter Jane Manns, her husband Ben and their children.
They had decided to take a Sea World Helicopter flight over the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon when tragedy struck.
Jane and Ben said the family has been left “heartbroken” by their deaths.
Horrifying footage showed the moments before the crash as tourists waiting for a flight saw the doomed chopper take off.
One child is heard saying: “Is he going to crash?” as the two black Sea World aircraft head towards a collision.
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.
At least 13 people required treatment following the tragedy on Monday afternoon at around 2pm.
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.”
Sea World Helicopters expressed its sympathy for those involved in the crash – and said it is cooperating with the authorities to find out what happened.
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/british-couple-ron-65-diane-786209919-1.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Ron Hughes and wife Diane died in the crash[/caption]
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/b40e675f-8831-42a6-ac4d-6dd14cb8bb6d.jpg?strip=all&w=829)
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-two-helicopters-collided-killing-786059240.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Investigators are probing why the pilots apparently did not see each other until it was too late[/caption]