The remaining “hero” pilot from the horror Sea World helicopter crash, which killed several people, has died of cancer.
Michael James, 53, was praised for saving the lives of his five passengers when the helicopter he was piloting was involved in a mid-air collision with another Joy Ride helicopter on Queensland’s Gold Coast on January 2, 2021.
Almost 18 months after the terrible accident, James lost a battle with cancer and died at the age of 53.
James was dubbed a hero after he safely landed the helicopter on a sandbar, even though it was badly damaged.
Sea World Helicopters pilot Michael James survived the tragedy but died of cancer.
He was praised for his “remarkable” landing and was quickly rushed to hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove shrapnel from his wounds.
Before he was rushed to hospital, Mr James was seen pulling people out of the rubble and helping others before accepting treatment for his injuries.
Mr James was praised as extraordinary, with one of his surviving passengers writing online in the days after the crash: “Our pilot, Michael James, you are our hero.”
‘You landed the helicopter safely and kept us and bystanders safe. We will be eternally grateful to you.’
He left a wife and said goodbye at a private funeral on June 4.
Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ash Jenkinson died in the crash, along with Vanessa Tadros and British tourists Ron and Diane Hughes.
Tadros’ son Nicholas, then 10 years old, suffered serious injuries and had to have his leg amputated from the knee down.
Victorian woman Winnie de Silva and her son Leon, then nine years old, were also seriously injured. León suffered a brain trauma and was in an induced coma for some time.
James was the pilot of the other helicopter that managed to land on a sandbar, saving the lives of New Zealand tourists Elmarie Steenberg, Riaan Steenberg, Edward Stewart and Marle Stewart, who were also injured in the accident.
The couples issued a joint statement to Mr James after the accident.
‘To our pilot, who, through all the chaos, landed the helicopter safely, keeping us and other bystanders safe. You are our hero. Thank you very much,” reads the joint statement.
helicopter crash
James never flew again after the accident and is understood to have been diagnosed with cancer sometime in 2023.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau continues to investigate the tragedy.
An interim report published by the ATSB in January revealed that chief pilot Ash Jenkinson had traces of cocaine in his system.
But ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell confirmed the trace of cocaine in Jenkinson’s system would not have caused the fatal collision.
“It is important to note that, while this is a substantial and complete interim report, the ATSB has not yet reached formal conclusions about the factors that contributed to this accident, as we continue our analysis of that evidence.”
The interim report revealed that the ATSB’s examination of the wreckage identified no pre-existing defects in any of the helicopters that could affect normal operation.
