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| Sydney seaplane: Tributes paid to family killed in crash | Sydney seaplane: Tributes paid to family killed in crash |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to the UK family killed in a seaplane crash near Sydney on New Year's Eve. | Tributes have been paid to the UK family killed in a seaplane crash near Sydney on New Year's Eve. |
| Colleagues of Richard Cousins, 58, chief executive of one of the world's largest catering companies, Compass Group, described his "great humanity". | 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 his fiancée, magazine editor Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, and his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, a campaigner. | He died alongside his fiancée, magazine editor Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, and his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, a campaigner. |
| Australian pilot Gareth Morgan, who also died, was known as "a gentle guy". | Australian pilot Gareth Morgan, who also died, was known as "a gentle guy". |
| 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 when the seaplane - which belonged to a firm running sightseeing tours - plunged into a river 30 miles (50km) north of Sydney. |
| 'Deeply shocked' | 'Deeply shocked' |
| 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, were reportedly flying back to Sydney from an exclusive waterfront restaurant in Jerusalem Bay on New Year's Eve. |
| The crash happened in Hawkesbury River, near the suburb of Cowan, at about 15:10 local time (04:10 GMT) on Sunday, police 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. |
| The cause is not yet known and investigators say it could be many months before they can piece together events. | The cause is not yet known and investigators say it could be many months before they can piece together events. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Compass chairman Paul Walsh said the firm was "deeply shocked and saddened". | Compass chairman Paul Walsh said the firm was "deeply shocked and saddened". |
| "It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years," he said. | "It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years," he said. |
| "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 Kennington. | Mr Cousins, a huge cricket fan, was a regular visitor to the Kia Oval in Kennington. |
| 'Great heart' | '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". |
| Labour MP Chuka Umunna described William as "an absolute pleasure to work with, utterly dedicated to the cause, dynamic and full of enthusiasm". | Labour MP Chuka Umunna described William as "an absolute pleasure to work with, utterly dedicated to the cause, dynamic and full of enthusiasm". |
| "He went about things with great heart and humour," he added. | "He went about things with great heart and humour," he added. |
| Fellow Labour MP Chris Leslie tweeted that William was an "exceptionally talented head of press" who would be deeply missed. | Fellow Labour MP Chris Leslie tweeted that William was an "exceptionally talented head of press" who would be deeply missed. |
| Arts editor Ms Bowden, who worked at OK! magazine for 15 years, was the "Grace Kelly" of the office, according to former editor-in-chief Lisa Byrne. | Arts editor Ms Bowden, who worked at OK! magazine for 15 years, was the "Grace Kelly" of the office, according to former editor-in-chief Lisa Byrne. |
| She was regal, serene, well-educated and could stay calm under pressure, she said. | She was regal, serene, well-educated and could stay calm under pressure, she said. |
| Family friend Jan Gleeson said Ms Bowden was "a beautiful and positive person" who "spread light and happiness among her friends and family". | Family friend Jan Gleeson said Ms Bowden was "a beautiful and positive person" who "spread light and happiness among her friends and family". |
| 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. | 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. |
| "Richard was a lovely, lovely man and together they were all finding the happiness she had so long deserved," she added. | "Richard was a lovely, lovely man and together they were all finding the happiness she had so long deserved," she added. |
| Edward Cousins had recently graduated from St Andrews University, where he was president of the university's Mixed Martial Arts Club. | Edward Cousins had recently graduated from St Andrews University, where he was president of the university's Mixed Martial Arts Club. |
| Friend Alex Brinkman said on Facebook that Ed's "sense of humour and bright personality" made training that much better, and he "embodied what it meant to be a martial artist". | Friend Alex Brinkman said on Facebook that Ed's "sense of humour and bright personality" made training that much better, and he "embodied what it meant to be a martial artist". |
| 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. | He added that all flights had been suspended. |
| The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the sequence of events leading up to the accident was not yet understood. | |
| Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned sharply to the right shortly after taking off. | Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned sharply to the right shortly after taking off. |
| The plane then crashed into the river and sank rapidly, ATSB said. | |
| One eyewitness told a radio station he had watched from a houseboat as the plane nosedived. | 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. | 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. | 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". |