
7NEWS Spotlight: Cockpit footage of the Avalon Airshow crash that left pilot seriously injured
The four-time champion was flying at 300km an hour, making the force of the impact so horrific that it looked impossible to survive.
Within seconds, the atmosphere changed at the country's biggest airshow.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cockpit footage of Avalon Airshow crash
The excitement of the crowd, and the noisy roar of the planes, was gone.
Suddenly, the mood was one of shock and reverence.
Thousands of people stood still, in silence, with their eyes fixed on the wreckage of Glenn's Pitts Special.
Everyone was hoping for a miracle, no one dared to believe it would come.Glenn's friend, Angela Stevenson, was in the commentary box, utterly devastated by what she'd just witnessed.
Believing there was no way he could have survived, Angela buried her grief.
She steeled herself to turn on her microphone and make the necessary emergency announcements to the crowd.
Just as she'd finished, Angela was told there was one more message to deliver.
The incredible news, Glenn Collins was alive.
Tonight on Sunday, for the first time, we'll reveal the full story of what happened that day.
With permission from Glenn Collins and Sky Aces leader Paul Bennet, we take you inside the cockpits of all four planes, to experience exactly what they did, as the tragedy unfolded.
Moment by moment, it's confronting and raw.
To excel at formation aerobatics requires precision skills, honed over years of practice.
Every time they go up, the pilots hold each other's lives in their hands.
This story takes you inside that world, to understand what it takes to be right up there, with the best in the country.
It demands a certain mindset, and that mindset is what makes Glenn Collins so extraordinary. Doctors agree his survival is a miracle.
He now faces a long recovery and Glenn's family has set up a fundraiser to help cover his medical expenses.
As you'll see tonight, making it out of that wreckage alive was the first of many.
His story is the kind that will stay with you, for a long time. It's high-octane and some moments are difficult to watch.
But in the next heartbeat, there are heroes. It's also an incredible love story.
Even on the ground, Glenn's journey is full of twists and turns. It's inspiring and deeply moving.
A wild ride that, on this rare occasion, ends in triumph.
But you'll notice Glenn's courage takes many forms.
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7NEWS
20-07-2025
- 7NEWS
7NEWS Spotlight: Cockpit footage of the Avalon Airshow crash that left pilot seriously injured
When Sky Aces aerobatic pilot Glenn Collins crashed at the Avalon International Airshow in March, everyone feared the worst. The four-time champion was flying at 300km an hour, making the force of the impact so horrific that it looked impossible to survive. Within seconds, the atmosphere changed at the country's biggest airshow. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cockpit footage of Avalon Airshow crash The excitement of the crowd, and the noisy roar of the planes, was gone. Suddenly, the mood was one of shock and reverence. Thousands of people stood still, in silence, with their eyes fixed on the wreckage of Glenn's Pitts Special. Everyone was hoping for a miracle, no one dared to believe it would friend, Angela Stevenson, was in the commentary box, utterly devastated by what she'd just witnessed. Believing there was no way he could have survived, Angela buried her grief. She steeled herself to turn on her microphone and make the necessary emergency announcements to the crowd. Just as she'd finished, Angela was told there was one more message to deliver. The incredible news, Glenn Collins was alive. Tonight on Sunday, for the first time, we'll reveal the full story of what happened that day. With permission from Glenn Collins and Sky Aces leader Paul Bennet, we take you inside the cockpits of all four planes, to experience exactly what they did, as the tragedy unfolded. Moment by moment, it's confronting and raw. To excel at formation aerobatics requires precision skills, honed over years of practice. Every time they go up, the pilots hold each other's lives in their hands. This story takes you inside that world, to understand what it takes to be right up there, with the best in the country. It demands a certain mindset, and that mindset is what makes Glenn Collins so extraordinary. Doctors agree his survival is a miracle. He now faces a long recovery and Glenn's family has set up a fundraiser to help cover his medical expenses. As you'll see tonight, making it out of that wreckage alive was the first of many. His story is the kind that will stay with you, for a long time. It's high-octane and some moments are difficult to watch. But in the next heartbeat, there are heroes. It's also an incredible love story. Even on the ground, Glenn's journey is full of twists and turns. It's inspiring and deeply moving. A wild ride that, on this rare occasion, ends in triumph. But you'll notice Glenn's courage takes many forms.


7NEWS
16-07-2025
- 7NEWS
7NEWS Spotlight: Avalon Airshow pilot's miracle story of survival
It was the moment that stunned a 40,0000-strong crowd. Veteran stunt pilot Glenn Collins was performing a manoeuvre he had flown hundreds of times before – a triple avalanche – when something went catastrophically wrong. His plane slamming into the ground at nearly 300km/hr. Emergency crews raced in and somehow against all odds, he survived. On assignment for 7NEWS Spotligh t, this Sunday at 8.20pm on Seven and 7plus 7NEWS reporter Kristy Mayr takes us inside the cockpit, with never-before-seen GoPro footage capturing every heart-stopping second, and the extraordinary rescue that followed. Speaking exclusively to 7NEWS Spotlight, Glenn recalls the crash that nearly claimed his life and his extraordinary journey back from the brink. 'I should have realised I didn't have enough altitude ... I should have known', Glenn said. We also hear from Glenn's wife Tracey Collins, his fellow Sky Aces, and the pyro team who raced to pull him from the wreckage, as fuel gushed into the cockpit. 'We need to get him out before it bursts into flames,' said Phil Ferguson, one of the first responders. 'This is not just a survival story. It's a story of grit, love and the razor-thin line between life and death. Watching the footage from inside the cockpit reveals just how terrifying it was for him to confront his fate,' Mayr said.


Courier-Mail
08-06-2025
- Courier-Mail
Entertainer's haven: Cinema, games lounge and resort-style pool
A Sovereign Islands stunner boasts some serious entertainer's credentials courtesy of painstaking redesign that's all about the indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Boasting 27m of waterfrontage and views to the Coomera River, 86 Royal Albert Cres has undergone an extensive renovation by owners Glenn and Riki Campbell, who purchased the property in 2022. Back then, the home had 'great bones' but was in need of a modern makeover, so the Campbells set to work redesigning the residence with a family friendly layout and the entertainer's lifestyle front of mind. 'It was in need of reconfiguring and modernising,' Mr Campbell said. 'We wanted it to be an entertainer's house, so we reconfigured the whole backyard and pool area to make it more family friendly, including removing concrete sections and adding bi-fold doors across the entire back of the house to allow it to open up. 'We also shifted the home cinema downstairs and turned the kitchen around to make it an open plan working area.' MORE: Theme park legend's crypto hideaway hits the market Zac Efron's Aussie long lunch haunt is on the market Upstairs, all the bedrooms received an update, and the bathrooms were also modernised, while the property's exterior enjoyed some attention, with a new facade featuring timber accents. The result is an immaculately renovated five-bedroom, five-bathroom home with an all-new look and some ultra-luxe features. Spanning three levels, the residence is designed to give occupants their own space but also brings people together, with the upper level dedicated to relaxation. The spacious master suite has its own dressing room and ensuite and enjoys access to a large balcony with water views. The top storey also features three additional bedrooms which all boast their own ensuites and walk-in robes, while on the ground level, it's all about entertaining. The cinema, games lounge and open plan living, dining, and kitchen area all interconnect, while bi-fold doors bring the outside in and allow for easy access to a covered outdoor entertaining area with its own built-in barbecue. 'We spend a lot of time in that outdoor barbecue area,' Mr Campbell said. 'It overlooks the water and is right next to the pool, with great views across to the Coomera River.' The ground floor also offers a second lounge area with balcony, along with an office that doubles as a guest suite courtesy of a concealed Murphy bed. 'It's a fabulous family home and we do a lot of entertaining,' Mr Campbell said. 'Whether it's a birthday, Christmas or a family gathering, everything tends to gravitate to our house because it's open plan and easy to entertain in.' Meanwhile, there's also the bonus of a huge basement beneath the home, which accommodates up to seven cars, and the property boasts a large boat pontoon where you can moor a 65ft boat. 'It's a very convenient location for boating,' Mr Campbell said. 'It's bridge free and in two minutes you can be on the Broadwater where you can access all the great locations on the Gold Coast.' Situated in a private Sovereign Islands estate, the property offers easy access to Paradise Point's cafes, restaurants, shops, and parklands, and is just 15 minutes from the village atmosphere and world-class golf courses of Sanctuary Cove. Following on from the success of their Sovereign Island's renovation, the Campbells are now set to embark on another project and have listed their home for sale with Ivy Wu and Isaac Kim of Ivy Realty Gold Coast.