Colin McRae Killed In Helicopter Crash

[CSS]

The former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm.

Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult and another child. Police said there were no survivors.

McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.

McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games.

The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's home, Jervis House, a 16th-century tower house, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with a light breeze, but visibility was good.

Strathclyde police said the extent of the fire damage was making identification a problem.

McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. She looked calm, but neighbours gathering outside the house looked shaken with grief.

McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart who flew with the champion several times described him as a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly.

"As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.

"It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2461339.ece

[stolat]

That's sad. Condolences to his family.

A amazing driver. RIP.

[CSS]

A amazing driver.

Absolutely, I could not agree with you more.

Rest In Peace.

[NicoRourke]

That's a sad story ...

[Shoco]

holy shit, this was the first i heard of it, so sad

R.I.P

[MR W,AXL ROSE]

McRae and son killed in crash

Colin McRae and his son, 5, died in helicopter accident police say

Rally driver Colin McRae and two children - one his five-year-old son - died in the helicopter crash near his country home, police said.

Strathclyde Police said they now know the 39-year-old former world champion, his son Johnny, and two family friends died in the aircraft which burst into flames in Lanark, Scotland, on Saturday afternoon.

The other victims were named as six-year-old Ben Porcelli, of Lanark, and Graeme Duncan, 37, who lived in France.

The Twin Squirrel helicopter which McRae owned came down about 4.10pm, bursting into flames and starting a massive fire.

It was returning to McRae's home at Jerviswood from a nearby visit to the village of Quarter when the aircraft got into difficulty, police said.

Chief Superintendent Tim Love, divisional commander of Strathclyde Police's South Lanarkshire Division, said: "We believe that the group were just returning from a visit to the nearby village of Quarter around 4.05pm yesterday, when it appears that the helicopter got into difficulty and crashed within the grounds of Mr McRae's family home.

"Our officers are working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Team who are presently at the scene.

"Family Liaison Officers have been appointed and are with the families to help them through this distressing and difficult time."

A team of air accident investigators are spending the day at the scene examining the wreckage.

Strathclyde Police initially said that the damage was so bad from the accident that they didn't know how many people were on board. A team of around 40 firefighters were at one point dealing with the fire from the blast.

R.I.P? ?

[mrlee]

think thats how you spell his name, the rally driver died in a helicopter crash last night?

this true? sucks if it is

[stolat]

Yes, sadly he and his 5 year old (and two others) have passed away.

[mrlee]

Yes, sadly he and his 5 year old (and two others) have passed away.

no! 

thats terrible

Its weird you dont think these things really happen to the celebrity people but i guess it goes to show it can happen to anyone.

[Grouse]

Oh wow I didn't know he died? ? I'm a big rally fan and I'm shocked....

R.i.p man?

[Loaded NightraiN]

Never heard of him... But damn thats shitty 

RIP

[MadmanDan]

First Richard Burns, now Colin...two great drivers...







...and ironically, the only two rally drivers that have video games named after them...maybe games really are thw devil's work    (excuse my dark humour)

[Loaded NightraiN]

First Richard Burns, now Colin...two great drivers...







...and ironically, the only two rally drivers that have video games named after them...maybe games really are thw devil's work ? ?(excuse my dark humour)

Why is John Madden still with us? 

[Voodoochild]

I think there was (is) a videogame series with his name on it...

Sad stuff. Condolences to his family...

RIP