The last Hero pilot of the Sea World helicopter crash that killed multiple people has died. Michael James, who was 53 years old at the time of the incident, died due to cancer.
He was praised for saving his passengers after the helicopter he was flying collided with another chopper on the Gold Coast in January 2021.
Almost 18 months following the tragic incident, Mr. James succumbed to his illness.
He was referred to as a hero after he successfully landed his helicopter on a beach despite its severe damage.
He was immediately rushed to a hospital after the accident and had surgery to remove shrapnel wounds.
Before he was taken to the hospital, Mr. James was seen helping the other people who were in the wreckage.
He was praised for his actions and was even referred to as a hero by one of his passengers online.
The passengers of the helicopter thanked Mr. James for safely landing the aircraft and ensuring their safety.
He was buried on June 4 with a private funeral.
The chief pilot of Sea World’s helicopter division, Ash Jenkinson, was also killed in the accident along with British tourists Diane and Ron Hughes.
Nicholas Tadros, the son of Ms Tadros, had his leg amputated due to his injuries.
A Victorian woman named Winnie de Silva and her nine-year-old son Leon were also seriously injured. Mr. James was the pilot of the helicopter that was able to land on a sand bank and save the lives of four New Zealand tourists.
These individuals were identified as Elmarie Steenberg, her husband Edward Stewart, Marle Stewart, and Riaan Steenberg.
Following the tragic incident, the couples who were on the flight thanked Mr. James for his actions and said that he was their hero.
He retired from flying after the accident and was later diagnosed with cancer.
An investigation by the ATSB is still ongoing.
In January, an interim report revealed that Ash Jenkinson, the Sea World pilot, had traces of drugs in his system.
However, the agency’s chief commissioner said that the presence of cocaine did not cause the accident.
Although the interim report provided a comprehensive analysis of the incident, the ATSB noted that it still doesn’t have a definitive conclusion regarding the cause of the accident.
The agency’s investigators also found no signs of pre-existing problems in the two helicopters.