The loved ones of two of the Australian Defence Force members presumed dead in a catastrophic helicopter crash in Queensland have shared tributes to the “devoted father” and “generous and kind man”.
Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were taking part in joint military training as a part of Exercise Talisman Sabre when the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed near Hamilton Island on Friday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: All hope lost in the search for four crew members of crashed helicopter.
Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>
A recovery mission continues for their bodies.
Laycock’s parents, Joseph Wayne Laycock and Dianne Laycock, said their son had “two loves in his life — his military career and his three boys”.
“We have been left devastated by the loss of our son and extend our most heartfelt sympathies to the loved ones of Phillip’s crewmates,” they said in a statement.
“Outside of his army career, Phillip was a devoted father and enthusiastic mountain biker.
“He was an excellent cook, and prepared the family’s Christmas dinner on a number of occasions, with the same meticulous precision he brought to his work — he would shoo us out of the kitchen if we threatened to interfere.
“As well as us and his brother Stephen, Phillip leaves behind three sons, aged between seven and 11, who live on the NSW South Coast with their mother, and share their dad’s love of mountain biking.”
The partner of Naggs remembered him as a “beloved partner, son, brother and friend”.
“Alex was a hard-working, generous and kind man who was always there for his mates,” they said in a statement.
“Alex was an inspiration to his family and those around him. We are heartbroken to lose him so soon.
“Alex was a private person and I ask that his and our privacy is respected as we take things one day at a time.
“We offer our thoughts to the families of Alex’s crew mates at this time.”
Died ‘making a difference’
Defence Minister Richard Marles said evidence showed there had been a “catastrophic incident” and any hope of finding the men, who were members of the 6th Aviation Regiment, alive was lost.
“We are all left wondering, naturally, what happened (and) foremost in our minds at this moment must be the families of these four men and their teammates,” Marles said.
“There will be a full investigation and we will come to understand exactly what happened and learn the lessons from it.”
Marles said the loss of the four men was “significant and meaningful”.
“They died on Friday night making a difference,” he said.
– With AAP
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.