Oliver Tree helicopter crash: Mom recalls his final plans
Christine Begin Nickell said Oliver Tree sounded thrilled about the helicopter trip that became his last, according to TMZ.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
The Oliver Tree helicopter crash took on an especially painful new detail Saturday when the singer’s mother described their last conversation, according to TMZ.
Christine Begin Nickell spoke during Tree’s celebration of life at the UCSC Quarry Amphitheater in Santa Cruz, where she told mourners she had been texting her son the day before he died about his attempt to stop smoking, TMZ reported.
Nickell said Tree quickly switched the exchange to FaceTime and blew cigarette smoke toward the camera, according to TMZ. The moment carried his usual mischief, but she said what stayed with her was his mood: he seemed upbeat, energized and eager for what was coming next.
What did Oliver Tree tell his mom before the helicopter crash?
According to Nickell’s remarks reported by TMZ, Tree told his family he was planning to fly by helicopter the next day to a house on a mountaintop. He expected to spend the day there making TikTok videos and music with friends.
Nickell said her son was drawn to big, memorable outings and kept looking for ways to top the last one, TMZ reported. That made his excitement about the trip a tender part of Saturday’s memorial, where family, friends and fans gathered to remember him.
TMZ has reported that Tree and five other people died on June 14 after two helicopters collided in the air over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tree was 32.
A midair collision is an aviation crash in which aircraft strike each other while flying. In this case, TMZ reported that the crash involved two helicopters over Rio de Janeiro.
Who spoke at Oliver Tree’s celebration of life?
The Santa Cruz memorial brought together several people from Tree’s orbit. TMZ reported that Logan Paul, Diplo and Ethan Klein were among those who spoke during the event.
The service also included live music, tribute videos and unreleased footage, according to TMZ. The memorial featured multiple caskets, each tied to one of Tree’s different characters, the outlet reported.
Tree built a career around music, visual comedy and alter egos, and Saturday’s gathering reflected that mix. TMZ described the event as a celebration of the many personas he used in his work, while his mother’s story gave the crowd a more private glimpse of his final day.
Nickell’s account did not dwell on the mechanics of the crash. Instead, according to TMZ, she focused on the son she spoke with one last time: laughing, smoking on FaceTime and looking forward to another creative trip with friends.
For those at the amphitheater, the memory landed as both ordinary and devastating. A mother checked in about cigarettes. Her son answered with a joke. Then he told her about the adventure he could not wait to take.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.