Families of Sea World helicopter crash launch injury claims

2 months ago 29

The families of those killed in the Sea World helicopter crash have made claims for psychiatric injuries suffered as a result of one of Australia’s worst air disasters.

Four people were killed and several injured after two choppers from Sea World Helicopters collided on the Gold Coast in 2023.

Nicholas Tadros, from Sydney, was just 10 when he boarded one of the scenic helicopter flights with his mother, Vanessa, on January 2, 2023.

Nicholas Tadros sits by a portrait of his late mother, Vanessa, at the family’s Glenmore Park home.

About 25 seconds into what was supposed to be a five-minute joy flight across the Broadwater, their helicopter collided with another Sea World Helicopter chopper.

Vanessa Tadros, 36, died alongside Sea World Helicopter chief pilot Ash Jenkinson and British couple Ron and Diane Hughes.

Nicholas suffered critical injuries, as his father, Simon, watched the tragedy unfold from the shore. Nicholas later had a leg amputated.

British couple Ron and Diane Hughes who were killed in the helicopter crash.

Simon Tadros and his son attended a coronial inquest into the crash earlier this year. However, proceedings were adjourned to January.

In the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Thursday, Ciaran Ehrich represented the Tadros and Hughes families in launching the proceedings.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Gold Coast City Council and Jetpoint Pty Ltd are listed as respondents in the matter.

Vanessa Tadros, 36, from Sydney’s Glenmore Park was killed instantly in the crash.

Outside court, Ehrich told reporters the applications on behalf of the families were preemptive measures for possible future legal action. Under Queensland law, there is a three-year limitation from the date of injury.

“Obviously, the inquest is adjourned to February so we won’t finalise that for some time,” he said.

“We have taken steps to commence proceedings to protect our client’s interests. There are impending limitation dates coming up so given the court closures we’ve taken the preemptive step to bring those applications.”

Ehrich said while the families were disappointed the inquest had been adjourned to next year, there was understanding about the process.

“There is a lot of information that has to come out of it. There’s a lot of evidence, there are a lot of witnesses, and I suppose the position from my clients is that we would like this done properly, which requires all the parties to have the proper chance to respond,” he said.

The inquest is probing how the crash occurred, including a focus on radio communication between the two helicopters. The court heard that due to faults with Jenkinson’s radio, a taxi call probably made from him was not transmitted before the crash.

Jenkinson’s partner, Kosha Richardson-Johnson, launched separate proceedings against Sea World Helicopters earlier this year. The family and the company agreed to settle the dependency claim without litigation last month.