Chilling footage has emerged from inside the descending helicopter from the Gold Coast crash.
Four people were killed and three others were badly injured after two helicopters collided on Monday at Sea World. One helicopter was landing while the other had just taken off.
In the video, which was obtained by 7News, a passenger filmed from inside the helicopter that was coming in to land. The person filming pans across the scenery before another passenger in the backseat points at something in front of them and then taps the pilot on the shoulder to alert them.
The video that 7News shared online finishes at this point, as they chose not to show the footage in full. However, they reported that the passenger is seen bracing for impact by grabbing the pilot's seat as the helicopter's windshield shattered and glass was sent through the cabin.
They said that those on board this helicopter were Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart, all from Auckland in New Zealand, pilot Michael James, and another unnamed passenger.
Everyone on board this helicopter survived the crash.
Four people died in the crash. They were pilot Ashley Jenkinson, Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros and British couple Diane and Ron Hughes. Tadros' 10-year-old son Nicholas is still in hospital, along with Geelong woman Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon.
Neil de Silva, who is Winnie's husband and Leon's stepdad, said he "went numb" when he saw the crash happen.
"I could see the other helicopter that was due to land. It looked like they were going to crash into one another," De Silva told the Courier Mail.
"As it got closer, I was thinking, 'This is crazy, this looks really bad', and I just went numb."
De Silva then waited two hours before he learned the pair were among the survivors.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the cause of the crash.
"During the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site. Investigators will also recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra, gather any available recorded data for analysis, and interview witnesses and other involved parties," ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
"The ATSB anticipates publishing a preliminary report detailing basic information gathered during the investigation's evidence collection phase in approximately 6-8 weeks.
"A final report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation, however, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken."
