Sidney, Europe Brief News – At least four people were killed after a mid-air collision between two helicopters near Seaworld on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Nine other passengers were injured and taken to hospital for treatment, three of them in critical condition.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) further said an investigation was opened into the incident.
The collision took place 14:00 local time along a tourist strip known as Main Beach. It is about 75km south of Brisbane.
Gary Worrell of Queensland police told reporters that one helicopter appeared to be taking off as the other one was landing.
He said the four deaths and three serious injuries had all occurred in the same aircraft.
“It’s a difficult scene,” he said. “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.”
Images from the crash site show debris strewn around the area and a mangled helicopter apparently lying upside down opposite the Seaworld resort.
The other helicopter has the popular marine park’s logo emblazoned on its side. It also appears to have safely landed after the collision.
Seaworld Drive, the main access road to the marine park, has been closed off to traffic by local police.
They urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area as first responders inspect the scene.
Investigators from the ATSB’s offices in Brisbane and Canberra are being deployed to the scene to gather evidence. The started examining the wreckage and interviewing witnesses.
