The accident happened near a popular tourist destination.
11:59•Updated 11:59
Two helicopters collided mid-air in Australia on Monday afternoon local time.
Four people died and three were seriously injured in the accident.
At the time of the collision, one of the helicopters was taking off and the other was landing, Gary Worrell Queensland Police said at a press conference.
One of the helicopters landed safely on the embankment after the collision, but the other broke into pieces. According to the police, the remains of the destroyed helicopter spread over a wide, hard-to-reach area.
The dead and seriously injured were passengers of the destroyed helicopter.
The collision happened at a tourist destination near the Sea World theme park on Main Beach, located in the city of Gold Coast in the state of Queensland.
“Bystanders and police provided first aid and tried to rescue people from the fuselage of the helicopter, which was upside down,” said Worrel of the Queensland Police.
– People on jet skis, family boaters and ordinary bystanders rushed to help these people.
The passengers of the second helicopter also received medical treatment.
The company responsible for the helicopters, Sea World Helicopters, has expressed its condolences for the accident. The company says it is cooperating with the authorities to find out the cause of the collision.
An investigation has also been launched into the accident.
Premier of the State of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk called the incident a “horrific tragedy.”
“My deepest sympathies go out to all the families involved and to all who have suffered from this terrible accident,” he said.
The Gold Coast region is at its busiest in January, which is the main holiday season of the Australian summer.
Sources: AP, Reuters