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Sydney seaplane: UK businessman and family named as victims Sydney seaplane: Tributes paid to family killed in crash
(about 2 hours 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. Tributes have been paid to the UK family killed in a seaplane crash near Sydney on New Year's Eve.
Richard Cousins, 58, from London, died after the plane plunged into a river 30 miles (50km) north of Sydney. Colleagues of Richard Cousins, 58, chief executive of one of the world's largest catering companies, Compass Group, described his "great humanity".
He died alongside Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, and his sons, William, 25, and Edward, 23, police have said. He died alongside his fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, and his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, a political campaigner.
The Australian pilot was also killed. Australian pilot Gareth Morgan, who also died, was known as "a gentle guy".
Police in Australia have named the pilot as Gareth Morgan, 44. All six died when the seaplane - which belonged to a firm running sightseeing tours - plunged into a river 30 miles (50km) north of Sydney.
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. 'Deeply shocked'
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, were reportedly flying back to Sydney from an exclusive waterfront restaurant in Jerusalem Bay on New Year's Eve.
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. The crash happened in Hawkesbury River, near the suburb of Cowan, at about 15:10 local time (04:10 GMT) on Sunday, police 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. The cause is not yet known and investigators say it could be many months before they can piece together events.
He was due to leave his role in March and retire from the group in September. Richard Cousins had been chief executive of the FTSE 100 firm Compass Group in Surrey since 2006 - and had been due to retire in September.
'Tragic accident' Compass chairman Paul Walsh said the firm was "deeply shocked and saddened".
Paul Walsh, Compass chairman, said the firm was "deeply shocked and saddened" by his death. "It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years," 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.
"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."
Mr Cousins, a huge cricket fan, was a regular visitor to the Kia Oval in Kensington.
'Great heart'
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." Labour MP Chuka Umunna described William as "an absolute pleasure to work with, utterly dedicated to the cause, dynamic and full of enthusiasm".
Plane 'sunk rapidly' "He went about things with great heart and humour," he added.
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned sharply to the right shortly after taking off, before crashing. Fellow Labour MP Chris Leslie tweeted that William was an "exceptionally talented head of press" who would be deeply missed.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the plane "sunk rapidly" after crashing into the river. Family friend Jan Gleeson said Ms Bowden was "a beautiful and positive person" who "spread light and happiness among her friends and family".
Police divers were flown to the scene and all six bodies were recovered on Sunday evening. Her daughter Heather, who was a great friend to Ms Gleeson's son, was "funny, lovely and always a pleasure to be with", she said.
"The sequence of events leading up to the accident are not yet understood," the ATSB said. "Richard was a lovely, lovely man and together they were all finding the happiness she had so long deserved," she added.
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.
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.
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.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the sequence of events leading up to the accident were not yet understood.
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned sharply to the right shortly after taking off.
The plane then "sunk rapidly" after crashing into the river, ATSB said.
One eyewitness told a radio station he had watched from a houseboat as the plane nosedived.
He said he had dived in and tried unsuccessfully to open the fuselage door because the plane was sinking so quickly.
Police divers were flown to the scene and all six bodies were recovered on Sunday evening.
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".