Diane and Ron Hughes, from Neston, Wirral, were killed when two helicopters collided mid-air on Australia's Gold Coast on January 2, 2023, as they visited relatives Diane and Ron died in the crash (Image: UGC)

A pilot involved in a fatal helicopter crash that killed a British couple was likely suffering from cocaine withdrawal and a hangover, an inquest heard. Diane, 57, and her husband Ron Hughes, 65, from Neston, Wirral, died when two helicopters collided mid-air on Australia's Gold Coast on January 2, 2023.

The couple, who had been married for just 18 months, were visiting relatives in Australia for New Year when tragedy struck near Sea World in Queensland. The collision happened around 2pm local time as one helicopter was ascending while the other was descending .

One of t

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