Boy, 10, who survived Australia helicopter crash wakes up from coma

16 January 2023 , 06:26

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Nicholas Tadros, 10, survived a helicopter crash that killed his mother Vanessa

A 10-year-old boy who survived a horror helicopter crash has woken up from his coma after a miracle recovery.

Nicholas Tadros is being treated in the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, Australia where medical staff described his condition as "critical but stable".

His mother, Vanessa Tadros, 36, died when two helicopters from the Sea World theme park collided on January 2 at the tourist city of Gold Coast, 50 miles south of Brisbane.

A funeral took place for her on Monday near their family home in western Sydney, where her husband and Nicholas's father Simon Tadros gave an emotional eulogy that praised her "infectious" smile and described her as the family's "protector".

Four people died when two helicopters from the Sea World theme park collided on January 2 at Gold Coast, Australia (DAVE HUNT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

In an update on social media the day before, he shared that his son had been "off life support now for a few days”.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Simon wrote on Facebook: “His body has responded very well, still on the ventilator machine to support his breathing,”

“They have lowered his sedation medicine at times to see if he is responsive, and he has woken up and able to respond to some questions with a nod or shake of the head."

Nicholas's dad Simon shared on Sunday that his son had been off life support for a few days

“He is also able to hold my hand but still no movement in his legs yet, but have been advised that could be due to the broken bones in both his legs."

Mr Tadros added that medical staff had decided to sedate his son again for now ahead of two surgeries this week "due to the pain and distress and anxiety levels", with a major procedure scheduled on his ankle this Friday.

Along with Nicholas's mother, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes and pilot Ashley Jenkinson were also killed in the collision, which is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

The other victims who remain in hospital are a 33-year-old mother and her nine-year-old son, with their conditions both listed as stable.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas