'Deeply missed': Family's grief as father and son who died in plane crash identified
A father and son who were found dead after their light plane crashed in Northern NSW have been identified.
Jeff, 59, and Matthew Hills, 25, were found dead in the wreckage of their four-seater plane which crashed in steep terrain in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour, on Saturday.
The pair from the Gold Coast have been remembered by their family as two men who embraced life to the fullest.
"They were incredibly generous of their time and their finances to support those in serious need within the Gold Coast community, interstate and overseas," Jeff's nephew Craig Cameron told reporters on Sunday.
“With Jeff’s three sons – Matt, Jamie, and Josh – by his side, the Hills boys together embraced life to the fullest.
“Jeff and Matt will be deeply missed, but we are comforted they are living in eternity with Christ their saviour.”
The family thanked the efforts of emergency services who launched a search for the missing plane.
Tributes flow on social media
Friend Tom Hortz posted a touching tribute to the pair on Facebook describing them as “Two of the most selfless and generous people I’ve ever had the pleasure of calling my friends,”
Mr Hortz went on to say he would not be where he is without the guidance of Jeff who he considered “like a mentor to me”.
He said that Matty “like his father, would go out of his way to help you or your family and friends, even if he didn’t know them”.
Mr Hortz finished his touching tribute with a message that described how much the father and son loved flying.
“I know if Matt had a choice of when to go, flying with his dad would have been it,”
”Rest easy up there both of you,” he wrote.
The fatal crash
Jeff and Matthew set off from Murwillumbah in northern NSW at 6.30am on Friday and were scheduled to arrive in Taree at 8am.
Their associates, concerned the plane dropped off the radar and had not reached its destination, reached out on Friday morning to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which deployed its Melbourne-based search and rescue jet.
Poor weather and difficult conditions prevented search teams from locating and accessing the aircraft sooner.
The crash will be investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which asked any witnesses to come forward.
"Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant stakeholders so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," a spokesman said.
It's the second fatal plane crash in NSW in two weeks and the fifth nationwide in four months, according to ATSB data.
– with AAP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
