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Sydney seaplane: UK businessman and family named as victims | Sydney seaplane: UK businessman and family named as victims |
(35 minutes later) | |
The chief executive of catering giant Compass Group has died in a New Year's Eve seaplane crash near Sydney, alongside his two sons, fiancée and her daughter, his firm has said. | The chief executive of catering giant Compass Group has died in a New Year's Eve seaplane crash near Sydney, alongside his two sons, fiancée and her daughter, his firm has said. |
Richard Cousins, 58, from London, died after the plane plunged into a river 30 miles (50km) north of Sydney. | |
He died alongside Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, and his sons, William, 25, and Edward, 23, police have said. | |
The Australian pilot was also killed. | The Australian pilot was also killed. |
Police in Australia have named the pilot as Gareth Morgan, 44. | Police in Australia have named the pilot as Gareth Morgan, 44. |
All six died after the seaplane - which belonged to a firm running sightseeing tours - came down in the Hawkesbury River, near the suburb of Cowan. | All six died after the seaplane - which belonged to a firm running sightseeing tours - came down in the Hawkesbury River, near the suburb of Cowan. |
The crash happened at about 15:10 local time (04:10 GMT) on Sunday, New South Wales Police said. | The crash happened at about 15:10 local time (04:10 GMT) on Sunday, New South Wales Police said. |
The family, from Tooting in south-west London, are believed to have been flying back to Sydney from an exclusive waterfront restaurant in Jerusalem Bay on New Year's Eve, BBC correspondent Phil Mercer said. | |
Mr Cousins was chief executive of the Surrey-based, FTSE 100 firm Compass Group - thought to be the largest food service company in the world - since 2006. | Mr Cousins was chief executive of the Surrey-based, FTSE 100 firm Compass Group - thought to be the largest food service company in the world - since 2006. |
He was due to leave his role in March and retire from the group in September. | He was due to leave his role in March and retire from the group in September. |
'Tragic accident' | 'Tragic accident' |
Paul Walsh, Compass chairman, said the firm was "deeply shocked and saddened" by his death. | Paul Walsh, Compass chairman, said the firm was "deeply shocked and saddened" by his death. |
"The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard's family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them," he said. | "The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard's family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them," he said. |
"It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years. | "It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years. |
"Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a no-nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain's leading companies." | "Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a no-nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain's leading companies." |
His son, William Cousins, was head of press for Open Britain, which campaigns against a hard Brexit. | His son, William Cousins, was head of press for Open Britain, which campaigns against a hard Brexit. |
The group's chairman Roland Rudd said he was "an extraordinary young man who took deep pride in his work" and would be "missed beyond words". | The group's chairman Roland Rudd said he was "an extraordinary young man who took deep pride in his work" and would be "missed beyond words". |
Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings, head of the New South Wales marine area command, said: "These people had come over on holiday to one of the most beautiful parts of the world, and for this to happen at a place like this is just tragic." | Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings, head of the New South Wales marine area command, said: "These people had come over on holiday to one of the most beautiful parts of the world, and for this to happen at a place like this is just tragic." |
Plane 'sunk rapidly' | Plane 'sunk rapidly' |
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned sharply to the right shortly after taking off, before crashing. | Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned sharply to the right shortly after taking off, before crashing. |
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the plane "sunk rapidly" after crashing into the river. | The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the plane "sunk rapidly" after crashing into the river. |
Police divers were flown to the scene and all six bodies were recovered on Sunday evening. | Police divers were flown to the scene and all six bodies were recovered on Sunday evening. |
"The sequence of events leading up to the accident are not yet understood," the ATSB said. | "The sequence of events leading up to the accident are not yet understood," the ATSB said. |
The BBC's Phil Mercer said investigators needed to retrieve the plane's wreckage to begin the slow and painstaking job of establishing how a routine scenic flight ended in disaster. | The BBC's Phil Mercer said investigators needed to retrieve the plane's wreckage to begin the slow and painstaking job of establishing how a routine scenic flight ended in disaster. |
He said eyewitness accounts would form part of the investigation, which could take many months. | He said eyewitness accounts would form part of the investigation, which could take many months. |
One man told a radio station how he had watched from a houseboat as the seaplane nosedived into the water, our correspondent said. | One man told a radio station how he had watched from a houseboat as the seaplane nosedived into the water, our correspondent said. |
He said he had dived in and tried unsuccessfully to open the fuselage door because the plane was sinking so quickly. | He said he had dived in and tried unsuccessfully to open the fuselage door because the plane was sinking so quickly. |
The single-engine aircraft belonged to sightseeing flight company Sydney Seaplanes, which offers scenic flights over local tourist attractions. | The single-engine aircraft belonged to sightseeing flight company Sydney Seaplanes, which offers scenic flights over local tourist attractions. |
Aaron Shaw, chief executive of the firm, described Mr Morgan, the pilot, as a "gentle guy". | Aaron Shaw, chief executive of the firm, described Mr Morgan, the pilot, as a "gentle guy". |
"Ringing his parents today was one of the worst calls I've had to make in my life," he said. | "Ringing his parents today was one of the worst calls I've had to make in my life," he said. |
He added that all flights had been suspended and the cause of the accident was not yet known. | He added that all flights had been suspended and the cause of the accident was not yet known. |
The UK Foreign Office said consular officials were in contact with local authorities and staff were "ready to provide consular assistance". | The UK Foreign Office said consular officials were in contact with local authorities and staff were "ready to provide consular assistance". |