A holidaymaker who flew in the doomed Australian seaplane just four hours before it crashed killing all on board took what is believed to be the last photograph of tragic pilot Gareth Morgan alive.
The mum-of-two, from Kirklees, West Yorks, enjoyed a scenic aerial tour of Sydney Harbour in the seven-seater aircraft piloted by Gareth, 44, with her husband and two children at 11am on New Year’s Eve.
Just hours later at 3pm, Canadian Gareth and his five British passengers all died when the same plane nosedived into the Hawkesbury River at Cowan Creek, 30km north of Sydney.
A British family (pictured) flew with the same doomed seaplane earlier the same day before the pilot and all passengers were killed in a crash
Pictured is what is believed to be the last picture of pilot Gareth Morgan taken alive
Compass Group CEO Richard Cousins, 58, from Leeds, his London-based magazine editor fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, Emma’s 11-year-old daughter Heather Bowden and Richard’s sons Edward Cousins, 23, and 25-year-old William Cousins were all killed in the accident.
The Kirklees IT communications manager, 47, was horrified when she realised the plane involved in the horror crash was the same one she had travelled in only hours before.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘We were on the same aircraft that flew at 11am that morning – it was definitely the same one because it had the same ID number.
‘I sat at the front next to Gareth and was chatting to him the whole time, so it really does bring it home to you how close it could have been. It really could have been us.
Canadian Gareth (pictured) and his five British passengers all died when the same plane nosedived into the Hawkesbury River at Cowan Creek, 30km north of Sydney
Sydney couple Michele Molnar, 50, (right) and husband Rob Molnar, 55, (left) also enjoyed a trip with Sydney Seaplanes and believe they saw tragic Mr Cousins and his family on the jetty before they left
‘We were absolutely buzzing when we came off the flight but obviously when we found out what happened it put a huge dampener on everything, because we were so shocked thinking it could have been us.
‘I don’t know how it can have happened because the whole time we were flying with Gareth his ability was clear – he was obviously skilled, he was giving us lots of information about where we were and kept us well-informed.
‘He had us all at ease. It was an immaculate plane and such a beautiful smooth ride, there were no bumps or anything, we were really comfortable.
‘For this family it was supposed to be a fun day and the build-up to a massive new year’s eve celebration in the evening, but instead it turned into a tragedy.
‘We had such a fantastic experience and to hear people just after us had that same experience and died at the end of it is beyond comprehension.
Pictured are controls inside the exact plane which crashed and killed the pilot and all passengers
‘We have to get on a flight to go home and now I’m so nervous.’
The woman and her family had been travelling round Australia since early December and fly to Singapore on Tuesday before returning to the UK.
Sydney couple Michele Molnar, 50, and husband Rob Molnar, 55, also enjoyed a trip with Sydney Seaplanes yesterday and believe they saw tragic Mr Cousins and his family on the jetty before they left.
The couple were flown to Whale Beach in Sydney’s north but then were told their flight home was cancelled at 3.50pm and were brought home by a car instead due to the crash.
Rob said: ‘We were on the jetty with the family who died – I remembered seeing them and straight away once I heard the news I thought: ‘I bet it’s that English guy’.
‘He looked distinguished and he had a beautiful big camera around his neck and was obviously really excited about what was ahead of him.
Pilot Gareth Morgan (pictured) was killed after the plane nose-dived into Hawkesbury River
Ms Bowden (left) was on-board the plane with fiance Richard Cousins (right), a millionaire CEO in charge of British catering company Compass
Executive Richard Cousins (pictured) who alongside his fiancee, his two sons and her 11-year-old daughter died in a seaplane
‘It’s a real shame that it’s been tainted by all this and just so sad for the family. Our hearts go out to them.’
Michele added: ‘We thought we were so lucky to be able to get the booking for New Year’s Eve.
‘I was fearful but the company’s track record was the comforting thing – they ran us through the life jacket drill, and told us they had never had to use them before.
‘After our flight to Whale Beach we were met in the lobby at 3.50pm for our return flight but were told the plane was late. Then they said it was cancelled.
‘They mentioned wind, but it wasn’t until we got home that we realised the severity of it when we started getting so many text messages asking if we were ok.
‘It wasn’t until this morning until it really hit us and we thought ‘oh my god, it could have been us on that plane’.
Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter Heather, 11, died in a horror seaplane crash in the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, on New Year’s Eve
It’s believed Ms Bowden and her daughter (pictured) were travelling with Mr Cousins and his sons on a festive family holiday
‘You feel for the families and you feel for the poor people and the fear they would have felt.
‘I’d never go in a small plane again.’
Police yesterday said their joint investigation with aviation authorities into what caused the crash remains ongoing with divers still combing the 13-metre deep wreckage for clues.
Local reports suggest there was no mayday call before the aircraft suddenly pitched nose first into the water.
Sydney Seaplanes said Mr Morgan, who had also piloted seaplanes in the Maldives, had more than 10,000 hours of flying time under his belt and was extremely experienced.