The chief executive of catering giant Compass Group has died in a New Year’s Eve seaplane crash near Sydney alongside his two sons, fiancée and her daughter, his firm has said.

Richard Cousins died after the plane plunged into a river 30 miles (50km) north of Sydney.

Mr Cousins, 58, died alongside Emma Bowden, 48, her 11-year-old daughter, and his sons, William, 25, and Edward, 23, police have said.

The Australian pilot was also killed.

Police in Australia have named the pilot as Gareth Morgan, 44.

Media captionPolice divers attended the scene of the crash

All six died after the seaplane – which belonged to a firm running sightseeing tours – came down in the Hawkesbury River, near the suburb of Cowan.

The crash happened at about 15.10 local time (04.10 GMT) on Sunday, New South Wales Police said.

BBC correspondent Phil Mercer said the family were believed to be returning to Sydney from an exclusive waterfront restaurant in Jerusalem Bay on New Year’s Eve when the plane crashed.

Mr Cousins had been chief executive of the Surrey-based Compass Group – thought to be the largest food service company in the world – since 2006.

He was due to leave his role in March and retire from the group in September.

‘A tragic accident’

Paul Walsh, Compass chairman, said the firm was “deeply shocked and saddened” by his death.

“The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard’s family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them,” he said.

“It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years.

“Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a no-nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain’s leading companies.”