A delicate salvage operation has begun after two helicopters collided mid-air on the Gold Coast yesterday.

Four people, including Sea World chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson and two British tourists, have died and three are fighting for their lives.

Press PLAY below to hear the details 

One Sea World helicopter plunged onto a sandbank nose-down, while the other managed to land in a busy area near the theme park.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau boss Angus Mitchell told Peter Fegan the two helicopters collided while one was taking off and the other was landing.

“What appears to have happened is the helicopter taking off, its main rotor blades have impacted the front left-hand cabin of the landing helicopter,” he said on 4BC Summer Mornings. 

“Due to that collision, those rotor blades and the main gearbox have come away from the helicopter, which has caused it to tragically plummet down to the ground.”

Press PLAY below to hear Angus Mitchell share what is known about the crash

Luke Bradnam said he heard “ambulance after ambulance” crossing over the Sundale Bridge around 2pm yesterday.

“To be honest, I didn’t think too much of it at the time; you often get loud noises crossing over the bridge but it was one too many ambulances,” he said on 4BC Summer Breakfast.

“I walked out on the balcony and … I could see this small little sandbank just off of Sea World that was inundated with marine crafts.

“It was sickening. I was there looking at it and you could see the emergency services racing.”

Press PLAY below to hear Luke Bradnam describe watching the emergency unfold

Today reporter Mia Glover told Luke the tides have hampered salvage operations as water swallowed the sandbank.

“We have seen in the past 20 minutes or so, excavators and a police barge really start to move in and try to delicately remove that wreckage,” she said.

“It’s just going to be a very slow, tedious process, but one they just can’t mess up.”

Press PLAY below to hear the latest 

John, who is holidaying on the Gold Coast from Melbourne, told Bill McDonald yesterday he heard a “massive bang” while visiting the theme park.

“I was walking my son who was asleep in the pram, pretty much passed where the helicopters take off, and just heard this massive bang, didn’t know what it was.”

Press PLAY below to hear his eyewitness account

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the tragedy.

Anyone who may have seen the collision, witnessed the helicopters in any phase of their flights, or who has footage of should contact witness@atsb.gov.au.

Ambulance after ambulance rushing the the scene of what I’m told is a chopper crash near SeaWorld. I’ve been told one chopper is in the water pic.twitter.com/FU93kVjvSH

— Luke Bradnam (@LukeBradnam) January 2, 2023

#MainBeach – Multiple QAS resources and other emergency services are on the scene of a major incident involving two helicopter at 1.59pm. No further details at this time.

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) January 2, 2023

#BREAKING: Emergency services are responding after a helicopter crash on the Gold Coast Broadwater at Southport.

Three people are believed dead, with two more seriously injured.

More details to come. #9News pic.twitter.com/Mmtw1ENscL

— 9News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) January 2, 2023