'I ask everyone to pray for the little man.' What we know about the victims of the Sea World helicopter crash.

Four people have been killed and more than a dozen injured after a Sea World helicopter collided with another, seconds after taking off on the Gold Coast.

On Monday, families watched on as the helicopter, carrying seven people on a Sea World joy flight, took off and collided with another helicopter at Main Beach near Sea World around 2pm. 

The helicopter crashed upside down into a sandbar at the water's edge, leaving four people dead and three critically injured.

The three who survived, a woman and two young boys, were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, news.com.au reports.

The second Sea World aircraft landed safely, but the windscreen was damaged and a number of people were injured by glass debris.

"After our initial inquiries, it appears that one has been taking off and one has been landing," Acting Inspector Gary Worrell told reporters on Monday.

"As a result of that, four people have lost their lives today and we have three others who are critical in hospital."

Queensland Ambulance supervisor Jayney Shearman said another six patients were treated primarily for glass shrapnel wounds.

"This is very traumatic, and certainly our thoughts and condolences go out to the families of all those involved," she told reporters. 

People on jet skis and in boats rushed to help the victims at the sand island before paramedics and police arrived.

"Is he going to crash?"

In video footage of the incident, obtained by 9News, bystanders can be seen watching as the helicopter took off near the theme park.

"Is he going to crash?" a child is heard asking in the video before the collision.

"No!" another voice is heard yelling out. 

Watch the 9News report on the collision. Post continues below.  

Witness Jonathon James Spagnol said the crash happened after helicopters got too close, with the rear rotor of one sawing off the others.

"Look[s] like one went up and one was coming back in. Chopped the back off the other landed on the sand bar. Was right behind us," he wrote on Facebook.

Another witness, Julie Cannock, reported a huge bang as the aircraft collided.

"Awful watching this happened live in front of us," Cannock said on social media.

"So lucky for the families and boaties on the beach under where they crashed... huge bang as they collided and the rotors flew off and then watched in slow motion as the first chopper crashed to the sand bar... still in shock... so sad for the families on what was supposed to be a lovely days sight seeing tour."

The four victims. 

Ashley Jenkinson, who worked as a chief pilot at Sea World Helicopters, was named as the first of four victims who lost their lives in the collision. 

According to news.com.au, the 40-year-old had just celebrated his son's first birthday in September.

Those who knew him have remembered Ash as a "true legend" and an "amazing pilot", who delivered care packages to those in need during last year's floods.

"This incredible chief pilot performed lots of flights back and forth to people in need, including some very remote areas," his friend, Billie Frank, wrote on Facebook.

"Flying is not an easy task. The concentration and being on point is constant, but as usual, Ash smashed it out of the park to help the flood victims."

Ashley Jenkinson (left). Image: Facebook. 

Queensland Police Acting Inspector Mike Campbell said a 57-year-old and 65-year-old couple from the UK also died.

That couple has now been identified as Ron and Diane Hughes, who had travelled to the Gold Coast to visit Ron's daughter Jane, after getting married in the UK in 2021.

"Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know," Jane and her husband told 7News.

"Please respect our privacy at this devastating time."

Image: Facebook.

36-year-old Vanessa Tadros, from Glenmore Park in Sydney, who boarded the aircraft with her son Nicholas, has also been identified as a victim of the collision. 

Her 10-year-old was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital with serious injuries, where family members, including his father Simon who watched the crash from the ground, remain by his bedside.

"I ask everyone to pray for the little man. He is on life support in a critical condition," Simon wrote on social media, as per the ABC.

"May God pull him back with me and make a good recovery."

Vanessa has been remembered as a "much loved and highly respected mother" in a GoFundMe set up to support the family. 

Image: 9News.

The survivors.

As well as Vanessa's son, nine-year-old Leon De Silva and his mother Winnie De Silva from Geelong also survived the crash and are currently recovering in hospital. 

Leon is in a critical condition while Winnie is in a serious condition.

Winnie's husband, Neil, was one of hundreds watching on as the helicopter carrying his wife and stepson plummeted to the ground.

"I was waving to Winnie and then the helicopter had travelled about 200 metres and then I see, half of the tail section gets smashed off and the helicopter plummets to the ground when it gets hit by the other one," he told 9News. 

"I actually thought everybody would die. I couldn't imagine anyone surviving that."

In a GoFundMe set up to raise funds for the family, Neil wrote, the pair "are both alive but have a lot of surgery ahead of them which means the family will need to stay here on the Gold Coast and I won't be able to return to work".

"I'm hoping you can help us out with a small donation to keep us on our feet while Winnie and Leon recover."

Image:GoFundMe.

The pilot of the second helicopter, who has been identified by news.com.au as 52-year-old Michael James, and four of his five passengers, suffered minor glass shrapnel wounds.

The passengers included a West Australian woman and two New Zealand couples in their 40s who were travelling together.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said three of the six people in that helicopter were still in hospital and all were in a stable condition, including the pilot.

Investigation launched.

In a statement, Sea World Helicopters expressed their shock and deepest sympathy over the incident. 

"We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased," a spokesperson said.

"We are cooperating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police."

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said an investigation into the fatal mid-air collision has begun.

"Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB's Brisbane and Canberra offices," he said on Monday, hours after the crash.

Mitchell said the first aircraft had taken off and was in the air for less than 20 seconds before its main rotor blades hit the cockpit of the second helicopter, which was coming in to land.

"Now, exactly whether that was the very first point of impact we're yet to determine," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"But that in itself has led to the main rotor and the gearbox separating from the main helicopter, which then had no lift, and has fallen heavily to the ground."

Both helicopters were salvaged on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has offered her condolences to all involved.

"My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident," she wrote on Twitter on Monday. 

What has happened on the Gold Coast today is an unthinkable tragedy. My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident.

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) January 2, 2023

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia was shocked by the incident. 

"My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving."

Australia is shocked by the news of the terrible and tragic helicopter incident today on the Gold Coast.

My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 2, 2023

- With AAP. 

This article was originally published on January 3, 2023 and was updated on January 4, 2023. 

Feature Image: Facebook/9News.