Sea World chopper pilot dubbed a ‘hero’ for safely landing his helicopter after mid-air collision has died

The remaining ‘hero’ pilot of a horror Sea World chopper crash, which killed multiple people, has died of cancer.

Michael James, 53, was praised for saving the lives of his five passengers when the helicopter he was piloting was involved in a mid-air collision with another joy ride chopper on Queensland’s Gold Coast on January 2, 2021.

Almost 18 months on from the horrific crash, Mr James lost a battle with cancer and died aged 53.

Mr James was dubbed a hero after he safely landed the helicopter on a sandbank, despite it being severely damaged.

Mr James was praised as remarkable, with one of his surviving passengers writing online in the days following the crash: ‘Our pilot, Michael James, you are our hero’. Pictured is the wreckage of the helicopter which crashed

He was praised for his ‘remarkable’ landing and was quickly rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to remove shrapnel from his wounds.

Before he was rushed to hospital, Mr James was seen pulling people from the wreckage and helping others before he accepted treatment for his injuries.

Mr James was praised as remarkable, with one of his surviving passengers writing online in the days following the crash: ‘Our pilot, Michael James, you are our hero’.

‘You landed the helicopter safely and kept the bystanders and us safe. We are eternally grateful to you.’

He left behind a wife and was farewelled in a private funeral on June 4.

Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ash Jenkinson was killed in the crash, alongside Vanessa Tadros and British tourists Ron and Diane Hughes.

Ms Tadros’s son Nicholas, then 10, suffered critical injuries and had to have his leg amputated from the knee down.

Victorian woman Winnie de Silva and her son Leon, then nine, were also seriously injured. Leon suffered brain trauma and was placed in an induced coma for some time.

Mr James was the pilot of the other helicopter which managed to land on a sand bank, saving the lives of New Zealand tourists Elmarie Steenberg, Riaan Steenberg, Edward Stewart and Marle Stewart, who were also injured in the crash.

The couples issued a join statement to Mr James following the crash.

‘To our pilot, who, through all the chaos, landed the helicopter safely, keeping us and other bystanders safe. You are our hero. Thank you so very much,’ the joint statement read.

Mr James never returned to flying after the crash and it is understood he was diagnosed with cancer at some point in 2023 

Mr James never returned to flying after the crash and it is understood he was diagnosed with cancer at some point in 2023.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau continues to investigate the tragedy.

An interim report released by the ATSB in January revealed chief pilot Ash Jenkinson had traces of cocaine in his system.

But ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell confirmed the trace of cocaine in Mr Jenkinson’s system would not have caused the fatal collision.

‘It is important to note while this is a substantive and comprehensive interim report, the ATSB is yet make formal findings as to the contributing factors that led to this accident, as we are continuing our analysis of that evidence.’

The interim report revealed the ATSB’s wreckage examination identified no pre-existing defects in either helicopter that would affect normal operation.