The uncle of two of the victims of a seaplane crash north of Sydney on New Year's Eve, has described them as "immensely kind and generous".
Visitors are seen at the entrance to the Sydney Seaplanes terminal in Rose Bay, Sydney on January 1, 2018. Photo: AFP or licensors
Compass Group chief executive Richard Cousins, his fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, his two sons Edward and William, aged 23 and 25, and Ms Bowden's 11-year-old daughter Heather Bowden-Page - all from Britain - were killed in the crash on Sunday afternoon.
Australian pilot Gareth Morgan, from charter company Sydney Seaplanes, was also killed.
Officials said the single-engine plane sank rapidly after crashing into the Hawkesbury River.
The bodies of the victims have been recovered.
Sydney Seaplanes has suspended its flights as the crash is investigated.
Ian Thorpe, whose sister Caroline is Edward and William's mother, said they were well-mannered, loving young men and he was struggling to come to terms with the loss.
"They were just generally so kind, and that to me was the most outstanding thing," he said.
"It's the kindness that I liked about them, they were wonderful fellas, wonderful.
"I'm immensely proud ... I'm struggling ... to believe that they're not with us anymore."
Mr Thorpe described Richard Cousins as "tough", saying he knew exactly what he wanted to achieve in life.
"He knew exactly where he was going and he achieved it," he said.
"He was always very loving, made my sister very happy, they had some fantastic holidays, they had some fantastic times, and again I'm extremely proud of him to have had a fantastic relationship with my sister and made her so happy until the day she died."
Ms Bowden was the art editor at British publication OK! Magazine. Editor Kirsty Tyler said staff at the magazine were deeply shocked and saddened by her death.
"We would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all Emma's family and friends," she said.
"Emma was a popular and long-standing member of staff at OK! Magazine and she will be greatly missed by us all."
British Labour MP Chuka Umunna was friends with Richard and Will Cousins and had worked with both. He described their deaths as an utter tragedy for the family.
He said Will was key to the organisation Open Britain where he worked as a press officer, and would have had a future leading communications for a major political party.
"Will, who I knew best, was just an incredible young guy starting off in his life, just 25. He was so passionate, so energetic, so utterly dedicated to the pro-European cause in this country and we really have lost one of our very best," he said.
"You could see him leading the communications for either a large company or one of our main political parties. He was a Labour Party member. You could absolutely see him doing that in the future."
Open Britain chairman Roland Rudd said on Facebook Will was an "extraordinary young man who was passionate about what he did; who took deep pride in his work; and came into the office every day with enthusiasm, energy and determination".
In a tweet, Mr Rudd described Richard as "one of the greatest businessmen of his generation".
Mr Cousins had recently been recognised by the Harvard Business Review for his performance as chief executive of the multinational catering company. The 58-year-old planned to step down from his post in March.
Heather's London primary school told the ABC the young girl was popular with staff and pupils alike.
"She was a very capable, outgoing girl with a zest for life, a great sense of humour, an infectious smile and a passionate interest in the rights of children," the school said in a statement.
"She was an academically able, diligent pupil who also loved sport, computing and coding, and sharing the lead role in the school's production of Alice in Wonderland.
"When Heather left Fircroft in July 2017 we all believed that she would have the brightest of futures.
"The Fircroft school community is deeply shocked and saddened by their tragic loss."
Pilot 'one of the kindest I've met'
Tributes have also been paid to Mr Morgan, who was an experienced pilot with more than 10,000 hours of flying time.
In a Facebook post, friends described him as calm, positive and "a great student of his craft".
"I worked with Gareth at Harbour Air and [he] was truly one of the nicest pilots I've ever met. My thoughts are with his family," one friend said.
"Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He was one of the kindest I've met. And a very dear friend as well. He will be dearly missed and forever remembered. Rest in peace Gareth," another wrote.
- ABC
