The son of the New Zealand helicopter pilot, who died fighting the New South Wales bushfires, told Newshub his dad was his invincible role model.
Allan Tull was water-bombing a 1700 hectare fire on the New South Wales Coast on Friday when it's believed his monsoon bucket got tangled in trees.
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His family, at home in Katikati, are still trying to come terms with what happened.
"I've always seen him as my invincible dad," his son Joseph told Newshub on Saturday.
"I've always looked up to him, and [he's] what I strive to be really."
"Role model" is the phrase his son Joseph often uses to describe his old man.
Allan would often take chopper contracts a month at a time, leaving Bay of Plenty and flying to all corners of the globe.
"He's one of the most careful pilots I know, and one of the best pilots, and coming from most pilots in Australia, they'd probably say the same about him," Joseph said.
Joseph said that's because Allan really knew what he was doing - he'd been doing it for more than 30 years.
Allan's experience stretched far wider than just fighting bushfires in Australia. He'd also flown in places as far as Alaska, Mongolia, and Papua New Guinea throughout his career.
His son said he encountered many problems in the air - but it had always worked out.
"Engine failures and all sorts of things with him, something goes on, he doesn't blink an eyelid, he just deals with it really."
An investigation will now determine exactly how this flight went so horribly wrong, but it's been reported the waterbucket on Allan's Kawasaki chopper became caught in trees.
In a statement, his employer Sydney Helicopters said he was regarded as one of the most experienced firebombing pilots in the industry.
His other love was fishing, and friends at his Tauranga Club say Allan will be sorely missed.
But for those who knew him best, it's still a struggle to believe it.
"It hasn't hit home, it will be a long time. No one can believe it has happened to Dad," Joseph said.
Although there is one thing Allan's family are thankful for: he died doing what he loved.
Newshub.
