Sydney mum's chopper crash death still 'surreal' says friend
A close friend of Gold Coast chopper crash victim Vanessa Tadros says it's "surreal" to think the Sydney mother is gone.
Vanessa was one of four people killed when two sightseeing helicopters collided last Monday.
Her 10-year-old son Nicholas remains in a critical condition in Queensland Children's Hospital with his father Simon by his side.
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The Western Sydney Catholic community has thrown its arms around the mourning Tadros family, with friends and family coming together this afternoon in solidarity. 9News
Yesterday, more than 500 people gathered in a Catholic mass in St Padre Pio parish in western Sydney to pray for the beloved family.
Neighbour and close friend Marian Gobraiel was among them.
"It was something else, to be honest," she told Weekend Today this morning.
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Marian Gobraiel, a close friend of Vanessa Tadros, said it was surreal to think of her death. Today
"It was beautiful to see so many of Vanessa's friends and community members, and so many of Nicholas' friends, schoolmates."
She said it was still "surreal" to think of the devastation the family had suffered.
"It's a horrific loss and you just never think it's going to happen to someone who you know and love dearly," Gobraiel said.
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From left: Simon, Nicholas and Vanessa Tadros. 9News
"Vanessa was the most gracious and kind person I've ever met and all her friends have the exact same description.
"Her qualities are now missing from this earth and that's a great loss."
She said Vanessa had brightened people's days - not just those she knew and loved, but also her customers at her styling business.
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"Anything we can do to be kinder to each other to emulate those qualities ... I think that's a beautiful way to remember her."
She also urged people to donate to an online fundraiser set up to help the Tadros family.
An investigation into the crash continues.
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