Neston couple Diane and Ron Hughes, two of the victims of the Sea World helicopter crash (Image: UGC)

A pilot involved in a helicopter crash which killed a couple from Wirral was probably affected by cocaine withdrawal, an alcohol hangover and fatigue at the time, a coroner has heard. Diane, 57, and Ron Hughes, 65, from Neston , died after the two helicopters crashed mid-air on Australia's Gold Coast on January 2 2023.

The couple, who had only been married 18 months , were visiting family in Australia. The incident, at around 2pm local time, happened not far from Sea World in Queensland when one helicopter was taking off and the other was landing.

One of the helicopters was able to safely land on the sandbank, with five of its six passengers suffering only minor injuries. Bu

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