Colin McCrae - helicopter crash

[Sunny_01]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1284278,00.html

McRae Believed To Be On Crash Helicopter
Updated: 23:48, Saturday September 15, 2007

Rally driver Colin McRae is believed to among four people killed in a helicopter crash near his country home.
Strathclyde Police have said the 39-year-old star was believed to be on board the aircraft, which crashed at Jerviswood, near Lanark.

Rally driver Colin McRaeThere were four people on board, but no formal identifications have taken place yet.

Police have said extensive damage was done to the Squirrel helicopter, which was carrying four people when it crashed.

There will be no formal identification of any victims this evening.

The air accident investigation team are en route to establish the cause of the crash.

The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that its own helicopter was despatched to the scene along with three ambulance crews and units from Strathclyde Fire Brigade.

Sky Correspondent James Matthews said: "My understanding is that the helicopter involved is registered to Colin McRae, the former world rally champion former world rally champion.

"He lives on an estate where this crash took place, the Jervis Wood estate just outside Lanark in the central belt of Scotland.

"All police will say it that they are in touch with the family to try to establish the identity of those on board the helicopter."

[Milena]

God, that's really bad. :sad:

[Scarlett.]

OMG!

[Jackie]

Hopefully its not him.

[Conzors]

God Thats Bad..

Who Is he?

[Scarlett.]

Originally posted by jackie46
Hopefully its not him. it sounds like it:sad:

[Scarlett.]

Originally posted by Conzors
God Thats Bad..

Who Is he? A Rally Driver

[Red Moon]

A very very famous Rally Driver... it on Radio 5 live now.

They won't know if he was on the helicopter formally until the morning.

[gracie24]

Oh God this is awful!!!
He's such a legend.....
I'll be gutted if he's not alive!

[Milena]

The thing is though, even if it's not him, there are still 4 people dead. So either way, it's pretty tragic.

[Scarlett.]

R.I.P
to the four people who died :bawling:

[Red Moon]

Here is a picture of Colin.

A lot of people will also know him because the series of computer and console games he has put his name too.

[James]

This is awful news.

[Benji]

that is such a shock to hear that.

I am feeling really bad for all the celebs that have passed away recently,

Mike reid,
Paverotti
Jane tomlinson
Anita (Body shop)
Colin MCrae

im sure there is somoone else on the list. Its a real shock this year. They are quite big names.

[Red Moon]

Rally ace Colin McRae dies in air crashCOLIN McRAE, the former world rally champion, died along with his five-year-old son Johnny when his helicopter crashed near Lanark in Scotland yesterday. Two other people on board, believed to be close friends of McRae, also died. Jean-Eric Freudiger, the driver’s agent, confirmed McRae’s wife Alison and daughter Hollie were not on board.

The Squirrel aircraft came down in Jervis Wood near Lanark just after 4pm and immediately burst into flames. Strathclyde police said the damage to the helicopter was so bad that it could not immediately be determined how many people were on board. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been called in to investigate the cause of the crash.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said its own helicopter was despatched to the scene along with three ambulance crews. Strathclyde Fire Service also had units in attendance at the scene.

McRae was one of the most popular and successful drivers the sport has seen. He won 25 rallies in the World Rally Championship, finished on the podium 42 times and claimed the world championship itself in 1995. The next year he was awarded an MBE. He won a host of fans throughout the world, captivated by his daredevil style – he became as well known for his spectacular spills as for his victories.

He achieved his greatest successes with Subaru, before helping to transform the fortunes of Ford. He signed for the team in 1999 and won two races, a feat he repeated the following year. In 2001 he came within a whisker of winning the world championship again but was pipped to the title by fellow Briton Richard Burns. The two men seemed set for a rivalry that would last for years, and captivate the sport, but in a cruel twist of fate, Burns was forced to quit when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Burns fought a brave battle before dying in November 2005 – exactly four years after winning his title.

McRae won two more rallies for Ford in 2002, but the team did not renew his contract at the end of the season, and, incredibly, he found himself without a drive. He took part in various celebrity events, pulling in big crowds wherever he drove, and in 2004 he finished third in the GT class of the Le Mans 24-hour race.

He also took part in the Dakar rally. In 2005 he recorded two fastest times and was leading the event by more than six minutes when his Nissan hit a hidden ledge and catapulted end over end at high speed. Amazingly, McRae and his co-driver escaped serious injury.

McRae was one of the most flamboyant drivers in British sport and inspired one of the world’s best-selling computer rally games. His father, Jimmy, was five times British rally champion, and his son inherited his love of cars.

McRae’s brother, Alister, a former British rally champion, is in Australia.
Source: The Sunday Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2465231.ece)

[Ruth*Star]

Oh no...Thats such a shame, i heard about the crash, but i asummed he wasn't on it.
R.i.P

[Jackie]

My thoughts go out to his wife and daughter at this sad time x

[Milena]

Tragic. Absolutely tragic. R.I.P. :sad:

[MarkWaldorf]

:sad: Sad news. My thoughts go out to his family. RIP.

[newcastlefan]

RIP) Colin mccrae I remember his games Colin mcrae rally

[Mrluvaluva]

When I heard this today I was stunned.

[robroy_2000]

Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash
with his son

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/FREE/70915001/1024/FREE

[Matt08]

Heard this on the news this morning.

[Ruth*Star]

Yeah theres a thread in news stories, its so tragic.

[Scarlett.]

R.I.P Colin

[Chrizzle]

I dont even like racing, and Ive heard of him before.

Tragic.

[Wasted]

That's awful, very tragic, RIP. :sad:

[Red Moon]

The Latest News

Family tribute to McRae and sonColin McRae's father has spoken of the family's sadness over the death of the rally ace and his five-year-old son.

Mr McRae, 39, his son Johnny, friend Ben Porcelli, 6, and Graeme Duncan, 37, died following a helicopter crash in Lanarkshire on Saturday.

Jim McRae said it was "unbelievable" that his son and grandson's lives had been taken "so prematurely".

He said Ben was a "great buddy" of Johnny's and that Mr Duncan was a close friend of Mr McRae since school.

Speaking on behalf of the whole family, Mr McRae Snr, said: "It is much sadness and regret that we have to make this statement.

"It is unbelievable that Colin and Johnny's lives have been taken so prematurely and in such a tragic manner.

"Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie.

"Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty."

He said the family's thoughts were "very much" with the families of Ben and Mr Duncan.

"Ben was a great buddy of Johnny's and they had always spent a lot of time together both in and out of school," he added.

'Role model'

He said Mr Duncan, who lived in France, was back in Lanark on holiday.

"We are thankful for the overwhelming number of messages of support we have received from all around the world," Mr McRae Snr said.

"Colin was very much an inspiration and role model to motorsport fans the world over."

In a statement, Ben's father Mark and mother Karen, said: "We are absolutely devastated with the loss of our son Ben following this terrible accident.

"He was a charming, fun-loving and caring wee boy - the best boy in the world who enjoyed great times with his wee pal Johnny. It is just so tragic that their lives have been cut so short.

"Our thoughts also go out to the McRae and Duncan families."

Formal identification is expected in the next few days.

Ch Supt Tim Love from Strathclyde Police said the crash was not survivable and it was very difficult to tell the aircraft had been a helicopter.

Air accident investigators have started searching the helicopter crash site near Mr McRae's home.

The Scottish Subaru Impreza Owners' Club have been leaving tributes at the entrance to the house.

About 40 firefighters attended the accident which happened in woods just north of Lanark at 1600 BST.

Users of the rally champion's official website www.colinmcrae.com were greeted by a black screen on Sunday with no information available.

Police have been at the scene throughout the night and a cordon has been thrown around the area, including a private road up to the McRae family home.

Mr McRae, who is married with two young children, was Britain's first rally world champion in 1995 and is the son of five times British rallying champion Jimmy McRae.

Mr McRae admitted to enjoying the adrenaline rush of activities such as bungee jumping and was a keen pilot.

Wider fame

Nicky Grist, his co-driver since 1997, said: "Colin was always regarded as being a bit of a risk-taker in cars, but when it came to flying a helicopter he was a totally different man.

"The one thing he always told me, he said 'You don't mess about with a helicopter. They are bigger and better than I am and you have to drive them as such."

Mr McRae moved to the principality of Monaco in 1995, partly through his friendship with David Coulthard.

But as his family grew up, he spent more time back at his home in Lanarkshire. He and his wife Alison bought the 17th century Jerviswood House.

Rev Bryan Kerr, minister of Lanark Greyfriars Church and a neighbour of the McRae family, said: "A lot of people have been stunned by this and our thoughts go out to all of the families affected.

"This will be hugely devastating, particularly in such a small community. You just don't expect these things to happen on your doorstep especially when it is someone who is so well known and well liked in the town.

"The town's ministers have spoken to each other and special prayers will be offered for all those affected by the tragedy and remembering those who are working on the rescue efforts and trying to piece together what happened."

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Colin McRae was an outstanding Scottish sportsman of international stature and achievement.

"His death is a great tragedy, and my thoughts and condolences are with all the families and friends bereaved by this terrible accident."

Video games

Mr McRae's brother, Alister, is also a professional rally driver and has enjoyed some success, including winning the British Rally Championship in 1995.

His sister is a doctor at the University Hospital in County Durham and she too enjoys rally driving.

He also achieved wider fame by endorsing a range of successful video games. Codemasters released the first Colin McRae Rally title in 1998.

'Colin McRae: DiRT' was the title for the latest instalment of the games series which launched this year on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Stars from the world of motorsport have been paying tribute to Mr McRae.

Fellow Scot and Formula One ace David Coulthard, said: "He and Alison were good friends and I cannot imagine either without the other.

"He was fearless, flamboyant, blindingly quick in the car.

"We had some great times and his passing is a terrible blow for the McRae family and everyone who came in contact with him."
source: BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6997270.stm)

[Chrizzle]

Oh my goodness.. his son died to?

[Scarlett.]

His family must be going through so much sadness :sad:

[Loukas]

:sad:

thats soo sad :sad:

[Kaz]

So sad to hear this. :sad:

Hubby has followed Colin's racing career for many years. We're both stunned that the life of such a brilliant talent has been cut tragically short.

My heart goes out to his wife and daughter, and also his father and brother. They must be absolutely devastated.

Colin ..... you'll be missed by many. :sad:

[Sunny_01]

Such sad, sad news. Like your hubby Kaz mine has followed Colin Mcrae's career and we even went to a couple of his rallies when they were at Kielder many moons ago and at the new forest as well.

Such a tragic loss, my thoughts are with all the families and friends this evening.

Colin you are in our thoughts xxx