A church is holding a special mass to pray for a miracle to save the 10-year-old boy who was critically injured in the deadly Sea World Helicopters crash.
Vanessa Tadros and her son Nicholas, 10, were on board the chopper which hit another and plunged to the ground, killing the devoted mother on Monday.
Pilot Ash Jenkinson and British newlyweds Diane and Ron Hughes also died in the crash, but Nicholas was pulled alive from the wreckage.
He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and has been on life support ever since with his heartbroken father Simon now fearing only a miracle will save him.
A special mass will be held at the Tadros family’s (above) church after mother Vanessa was killed in the Sea World helicopter crash and son Nicholas was severely injured
Two Gold Coast Sea World helicopters collided with each other on Monday, killing four (pictured, the aftermath of the crash)
Now the family’s St Padre Pio Parish Crurch at Glenmore Park in western Sydney are holding a dedicated prayer service for Nicholas on Saturday.
Students and teachers from Nicholas’s school will join Father Suresh Kumar who said the mass will focus on ‘the healing of little Nicholas’.
‘He is very critical, very serious,’ Father Kumar told the ABC. ‘All that we can do is pray for a miracle.
‘Doctors are doing their best for little Nicky, but I think only a miracle can save him. His father has requested all of us pray for him.’
He revealed the youngster had only received his communion last year and the community was shattered to find out the family had been hit by the tragedy.
He added: ‘It is devastating for all of us. We cannot believe it is at our doorstep.
‘When we first heard the news — we hadn’t heard the names — that itself was tragic enough.
‘When we came to know who it was, it was just terrible.’
Meanwhile, Geelong woman Winnie De Silva said her nine-year-old son Leon has woken from from his induced coma after they were both critically injured in the crash.
Church leader Father Suresh Kumar (above) said the special mass will focus on ‘the healing of little Nicholas’
She said Leon woke from the coma and gave his mother a thumbs up despite still being in severe pain.
She revealed his first words after the terror ordeal were: ‘My leg…’
In a statement penned from her bed at Gold Coast University Hospital, Ms De Silva thanked people for their ‘kind thoughts and healing prayers’ for herself and her son.
‘They are helping me stay positive that Leon and I will get through this,’ Ms De Silva said.
Ms De Silva revealed her son had woken from his coma on Wednesday and she spoke with him at Brisbane Children’s Hospital over video call.
‘He gave me a ‘thumbs up’ and one of his big, beautiful smiles,’ she said.
‘Today he spoke two words – ‘my leg’ – which gives me hope that he is getting stronger each day.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the investigation’s initial evidence collection phase would last about 6-8 weeks (pictured, the crash site)
‘With more surgery scheduled for me next week, my complete focus is on getting better so that within the next couple of weeks I can be with Leon and support his recovery.
‘I can’t wait to hug my beautiful, brave boy!’
The De Silva family, including Winnie’s husband Neil, had decided to splurge on the helicopter ride during their holiday from Geelong West, in Victoria.
Mr De Silva was not on board the helicopter with his wife and son when he watched it lift off from the helipad before colliding with the blades of a second landing helicopter.
Two other holidaying couples from Auckland – Elmarie and Riaan Steenberg and Edward and Marle Swart – were on board the other helicopter which managed to land safely.
Tributes have continued to pour out for the four victims, with a GoFundMe for the De Silva family raising more than $60,000.
Winnie De Silva said her nine-year-old son Leon (pictured together) woke from his coma for the first time on Wednesday after they were both seriously injured in the crash
‘The generosity of people has been amazing, and I can’t thank you enough,’ Ms De Silva said.
‘More importantly, I continue to pray for the recovery of young Nicholas, who was seated near me in the helicopter, and offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the other passengers. It is an unthinkable and difficult time for us all.’
The shocking airborne tragedy is still being combed over by investigators, who may not have a verdict until mid-2024.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the investigation’s initial evidence collection phase would last about 6-8 weeks.
‘A final report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation,’ Commissioner Mitchell said.
‘However, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken.’
