Rottnest Island seaplane crash: Survivors Jeremy and Patricia Connor break silence after fatal incident

The WA survivors of the fatal seaplane crash off Rottnest Island last week say they are “eternally grateful” to have survived the tragedy and revealed that pilot James Wong played a critical role in their miraculous escape.

Jeremy and Patricia Connor were on board the seaplane that crashed last Tuesday, claiming the lives of Mr Wong, 34, Danish man Torben Poulsen, 60, and Swiss woman Danielle Grundbacher-Mosching, 65.

In a statement released on Tuesday, they said they were “eternally grateful that ourselves and others were able to reach safety”.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with our fellow passengers, their families and friends,” they said.

“Looking forward, we know that it could have been an even more tragic outcome and we sincerely hope that everyone can overcome what happened and heal as time goes by.”

“Similarly, our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the pilot, his family, friends and colleagues. We will never forget and will always be grateful that his demonstration of how to open the emergency exit was a critical factor in our survival.”

Mr Poulsen and Mrs Grundbacher-Mosching were both on holiday in WA with their spouses and were returning to Perth from the island getaway when the plane struggled to reach speeds before crashing into the water.

Mr Poulsen’s wife — Danish woman Hanna Esmee Duer, 58 — and the 63-year-old husband of Mrs Grundbacher-Mosching, Andreas Mosching were also among the survivors.

Mr and Mrs Connor also thanked the first responders, medical staff, rangers and volunteers, the RAC Rescue Helicopter crew “who airlifted us from Rottnest to Fiona Stanley Hospital in such a calm, confident and reassuring manner” and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

“All of you, without exception, were outstanding and you provided an incredibly generous and professional response that made an enormous difference and means so much to us,” they said.