The pilot who died in a fatal mid-air chopper crash on the Gold Coast was an "expert" flyer who used his expertise to help flood victims in New South Wales, his friends say.
Ashley Jenkinson died when the helicopter he was flying as part of Sea World Helicopters' scenic tours collided with another helicopter mid-flight above the Gold Coast Broadwater on Monday afternoon.
Shocked theme park visitors and families in the water on the New Year's Day public holiday witnessed the crash that also took the lives of three passengers and injured multiple others, including a child.
A 36-year-old woman from Glenmore Park in New South Wales and a 57-year-old and 65-year-old couple from the UK also died.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said family of the two UK citizens that died were being supported.
Thirty-three-year-old Winnie De Silva, her nine-year-old son Leon and another 10-year-old child, from New South Wales, were critically injured and remain in hospital.
Mr Jenkinson's friend, Andrew Taylor, told the ABC his mate was "just someone you wanted to be around".
He said his friend leaves behind a baby son and partner.
"He was very skilful and very much an expert in that chopper," Mr Taylor said.
"I'd spend a lot of time with Ash flying and he was a very good pilot, so something like that to happen yesterday just blows your mind."
Mr Taylor said Mr Jenkinson was integral in the flood relief effort in the Northern Rivers, rescuing stranded locals and delivering food.
"He was a big guy with a big heart," he said.
"A true legend, he was a very giving person."
Mr Taylor heard of his mate's death after seeing images of the crash on social media.
"Saw some photos come up on social media and obviously straight away I tried to ring Ash and make contact … and I rang a friend of mine who gave me the unfortunate news," Mr Taylor said.
"It was a bit gut wrenching and nerve-racking … to have a helicopter crash, to survive it at that height would be a bit of a miracle.
"On the fortunate side there were some people who came out of it and some that didn't and one of them was Ash."
Acting Premier Steven Miles and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll have laid floral tributes at a makeshift memorial at Broadwater Parklands.
'Ballina's hero'
Another friend Richie Gregg described Mr Jenkinson, who had a 15-month-old son, as a "big, gentle giant" and "just a top bloke".
"He loved his kid and his kid just loved daddy," he said.
"Everybody's just in shock."
Mr Gregg said he texted Mr Jenkinson, Sea World Helicopters' chief pilot, as soon as he heard of the theme park helicopter crash yesterday afternoon.
"I was like: 'Hey, I hope that wasn't you guys'," he said.
"I'm still waiting for that message to be delivered.
"I woke up this morning and looked at my phone and was still hoping it was a dream and that the message was delivered to him and he read it and replied, but no."
Mr Gregg described Mr Jenkinson as "Ballina's hero" because of the work the helicopter pilot did with some friends in the Northern Rivers region of NSW during last year's floods.
"I think that's how he needs to be remembered," Mr Gregg said.
"He … flew us down there and we helped thousands of people for five or six days just flying from the Gold Coast to Ballina and just finding people that were stranded.
"Everybody in those Northern Rivers should have a beer for him today."
Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader described Mr Jenkins as a hero of the Northern Rivers, saying she received a call from Mr Jenkinson when he first flew into Ballina during the floods last March.
"And he did whatever I asked him to do, whatever it was, he just didn't hesitate," she said.
"I just think he had had that caring nature, he just wanted to help people and he just never thought twice about it."
Cr Cadwallader said Mr Jenkinson flew all over the North Coast, helping with rescue or ferrying supplies to those in most need.
The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the collision.
