Tributes are flooding in for the family who were killed in a New Year’s Eve Sydney Seaplane crash, as more details about the victims are revealed.
Richard Cousins, 58, his fiancée Emma Bowden, her 11-year-old daughter Heather and his sons, 23-year-old Ed and 25-year-old William, all lost their lives – alongside experienced pilot Gareth Morgan – on what should have been the New Year’s Eve experience of a lifetime.
The British family were on a Christmas holiday to Australia when they boarded the popular “fly-dine” Sydney Seaplane trip from Rose Bay to Cottage Point Inn, previously enjoyed by Pippa Middleton and her new husband on their Australian Honeymoon. Tragically, the plane crashed into the Hawkesbury River.
Sydney Seaplanes has suspended all flights indefinitely and released a statement via Facebook, with MD Aaron Shaw saying all at the company were “deeply shocked”.
Cousins was a millionaire CEO of a British catering company and Bowden had been Art Editor at UK OK! magazine for 15 years. The magazine staff released a statement about the loss of their much-loved colleague yesterday following confirmation of the identities of the victims.
“All the staff at OK! magazine are deeply shocked and saddened to hear about this terrible tragedy. We would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all Emma’s family and friends,” an article on their website reads.
“Emma was a popular and long-standing member of staff at OK! magazine and she will be greatly missed by us all.”
The magazine’s former editor, Lisa Byrne, also shared an emotional post on Twitter about her colleague.
“Words cannot express my utter sadness and devastation. Emma Bowden was one of the loveliest people I have ever worked with @OK_Magazine & her daughter Heather was adorable. In total shock when I heard her name on the news. Can’t stop crying. My heart goes out to all the family,” she wrote.
“I used to call Emma Bowden the Grace Kelly of @OK_Magazine Always serene, smiling & never got involved in office politics. Tried (& failed) to get me into healthy eating. Heather was her pride and joy. A star shining bright over us. RIP Emma & all the victims. Love & prayers”
Emma Bowden and daughter Heather, via Facebook
Heather, via Facebook
It is thought that the recently engaged couple had sent out invitations to their wedding just days before the tragedy.
The Sun reports that Cousins’ first wife, Caroline, died of cancer just three years ago, and that before her death she urged him to “find somebody else”.
“He was always very loving. He made my sister very happy,” Caroline’s brother Ian Thorpe told the British tabloid.
“I am extremely proud of him to have had a fantastic relationship with my sister and to have made her so happy until the day she died.”
On his two nephews – who also lost their lives in the crash – he said they were, “wonderful fellas” who were “fabulous, well-mannered and brought up properly”.
Our thoughts are with everybody affected by the tragedy.
