Big move in Outback Wrangler lawsuit

The widow of Outback Wrangler co-star Chris Wilson will head to mediation to possibly resolve her lawsuit over her husband’s death during a crocodile egg collecting mission.

Mr Wilson was killed in a helicopter crash in remote West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory in February 2022.

His widow, Danielle, last year began proceedings in the Federal Court seeking damages for personal injury as well as for the loss of her husband’s income.

She filed the lawsuit against safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright’s company Helibrook before last month Mr Wright was also added as a respondent.

In a lengthy report handed down last year, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the crash was likely caused by the helicopter running out of fuel.

Barrister Matthew Kalyk, representing Ms Wilson, on Tuesday morning appeared in the Federal Court for an application for the parties to be ordered into mediation.

The court was told that no defences had been filed by the respondents.

The court has previously been told that several parties could be added to the proceedings.

But Mr Kalyk told Justice Elizabeth Raper that he was seeking to have the mediation go ahead without the other parties.

Darryn Kelly, acting for Mr Wright and Helibrook, said his clients agreed to enter mediation, adding: “Finalising the proceedings seems to be the sensible course.”

The parties will head to mediation in June before the matter returns to court later that month.