Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash

[NFS4]

http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/s...ort/article2461339.ece

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."

 

[schneiderguy]

Text

Text

An AS350 Squirrel helicopter registered to McRae crashed 1 mile north of Lanark, Scotland on 15 September 2007, which is close to the McRae family home. McRae is known to be a keen helicopter pilot, and it is believed that he and his 5 year old son were killed in the crash. [6] Strathclyde police confirmed there were no survivors in the crash, but said the fatalities will not be immediately formally identified.[7]

edit: posted at the exact same time as NSF4

 

[andylawcc]

:shocked:

 

[compuwiz1]

Hmmm, I don't know who's thread to let stand, since you and NFS4 posted at the same time. Too bad the forums don't show the second a thread was created.

 

[MrPickins]

I'm kinda surprised it wasn't in a car.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Hmmm, I don't know who's thread to let stand, since you and NFS4 posted at the same time. Too bad the forums don't show the second a thread was created.

My thread: 2096613
His thread: 2096614

My thread ends in 13, his ends in 14. Mine was first just barely

 

[Nik]

omfg

 

[Anubis]

 

[BCYL]

so sad, i loved watching him on the WRC...

 

[Vic]

It's not confirmed yet, but it doesn't sound good either. I'm a huge fan, so right now I'm just holding out hope.

 

[JRich]

Oh damn

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: MrPickins
I'm kinda surprised it wasn't in a car.

It's ironic...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I loved playing his video games

 

[Vegitto]

Damn, so sad.. In the first place, it's sad that both he and his kid died.. In the second place, it's sad that he didn't die doing what he loved.

I know that if I HAD to die, I'd want to do it while doing something I love..

RIP.

 

[Acanthus]

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
Damn, so sad.. In the first place, it's sad that both he and his kid died.. In the second place, it's sad that he didn't die doing what he loved.

I know that if I HAD to die, I'd want to do it while doing something I love..

RIP.

he enjoyed piloting though. sad however it happens.

 

[EvilYoda]

That sucks...I wonder if it was a malfunction or something.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

ZOMGWTF!

A big loss to motorsport and terrible for the family and friends he leaves behind

 

[otispunkmeyer]

what on earth!

colin was one of my all time rally hero's! i cant believe this.

i even ave every single game that bares his name

may he rest in peace... with richard burns (lost to brain cancer i think) in the land of driving gods

 

[ultimatebob]

Race car drivers should REALLY stay away from helicopters! Davey Allison also died the same way

 

[erikistired]

it's really odd that none of the news sources over here have picked this up. mcrae was a pretty big name in his sport, but i've seen multiple UK sources now, so unfortunately it seems to be true.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: MrPickins
I'm kinda surprised it wasn't in a car.

It's ironic...

No, it is not. I was going to actually note that the article used the word "irony" in an incorrect way. Although I guess they were quoting someone, but it is still incorrect.

I will save my explanation for another thread, as I do not want to be rude. My condolences, and I do hope they find a survivor, even if unlikely.

 

[Vic]

Police have confirmed that rally driver Colin McRae and his son were among four people killed in a helicopter crash near his country home.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

damn

 

[Newfie]