Colin McRae Dies

[DGP1]

Colin McRae and son die in helicopter crash
By Auslan Cramb, Scottish Correspondent
Last Updated: 6:24pm BST 16/09/2007

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Former world rally driving champion Colin McRae and his five-year-old son have been killed in a helicopter crash just 200 yards from his home.

Have your say: Pay tribute to Colin McRae
Obituary: Colin McRae
McRae: Chancer who took on the world
McRae was at the controls of his own Twin Squirrel helicopter on a trip with his son Johnny and two family friends, including another child, when it crashed near his 17th century mansion.


Colin McRae was awarded an MBE in 1996


All four died instantly as the aircraft exploded in a fireball after plunging into trees in the Lanarkshire countryside.

The other passengers were six-year-old Ben Porcelli from Lanark, a friend of McRae's son, and 37-year-old Graeme Duncan, who lives in France and was visiting the family.

The rally driver's wife Alison and his daughter Hollie, eight, are thought to have been away at a horse riding event at the time.

The accident happened in poor weather, with low clouds and rain, but the cause of the crash is not known.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing unusual noises coming from the engine before the accident.

Strathclyde Police said the group had been on a short outing to the nearby village of Quarter and were returning to McRae's estate at Jerviswood when the accident happened just after 4pm on Saturday.

Denis Lowry, 48, a farmer who lives nearby, called the emergency services after seeing the helicopter plunge into a valley and smoke rising from the crash site.

He said: "I could not see what happened when it went down. It was about half a mile from me and seemed to be flying normally.

"We are used to seeing it in the area. The helicopter is up so often my cattle don't even flinch when it is overhead.

"This will have an unbelievable effect on the community. Colin was a very popular person around here."

One of the best-known names in Scottish sport, McRae became the first British driver to win the world rally championship, and also the youngest winner, when he took the title in a Subaru in 1995.

The son of the five-times UK rally champion Jimmy McRae, 66, he began competing at the age of nine and won 25 events in his 30-year career.

Jimmy McRae paid tribute to his son, saying: "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.

"Our thoughts are also very much with the families of Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan."

David Richards, chief executive of the Benetton Formula One team, and McRae's boss when he won the world championship, said he would be remembered as a "true legend of the sport".

Speaking at the Belgian Grand Prix he added: "He had a competitive spirit like I’ve never seen. He was one of those people who had an extraordinary spirit that you just can’t define. It’s a terrible loss.

"I was chatting to him during the course of this week. It is extraordinary and it is still hard to take in."

"There are few people in life I would ever call a legend, but for me Colin was one of those people. He was just so competitive, and so extreme in everything he did. And yet also great fun.

Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, said McRae was an outstanding sportsman of "international stature and achievement".

David Coulthard, the Formula One driver who was due to partner McRae for a Race of Champions event at Wembley Stadium in December, called him "fearless, flamboyant and blindingly quick".

He added: "He and Alison were good friends and I cannot imagine either without the other. He was very down-to-earth, matter-of-fact that he was so good. He had all the good Scottish traits.

"I competed in the Race of Champions with him because of my respect for him. I remember him urging me on, telling me to get the finger out for Scotland.

"We had some great times and his passing is terrible blow for the McRae family and everyone who came in contact with him."

Nicky Grist, his co-driver, said he "pushed everything to the absolute limit", adding:

"They were the best times of my life, not just in motor sport but socially as well.

"He was known as a risk taker in cars, but with flying a helicopter he was a completely different man. He was a very safe and sensible pilot."

The Rev Alison Meikle, the local minister, said the deaths, including the loss of two young boys, had stunned the local community and there was a mood of "deep, deep upset" in the town of Lanark.

The rally driver last took part in a world championship event last year, and was working on a new car that he hoped to use in future races.

He moved to Monaco after winning the world title, and also had a house on the edge of Lake Geneva, but later returned to Scotland to allow the children to be educated at home.

Air accident investigators from Farnborough in Hampshire have been brought in to examine the crash site.

[fed_up_postie]

Sad loss to a great champion and a lovely bloke RIP colin and johnny and his freinds

[Carla]

My condolesance and heart goes out for his family and friends

[Lounge Lizard]

Why was he using a helicopter to go to "a nearby village - in poor weather with low clouds and rain", and does he have any connections with Royal Mail ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

None at all but I put a news item on about Jane Tomlinson and we have threads about cute pictures, favourite teams etc. If it was just about Royal Mail it would get to be a very staid and quiet board. But your POV is well taken.

[Carla]

Why was he using a helicopter to go to "a nearby village - in poor weather with low clouds and rain", and does he have any connections with Royal Mail ?

What that got to do with weather it his right to fly a helicopter if he wanted to and no he doesn't have any connection with royal mail but he did a lot for the rallying

[vigilante]

SO MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS HAVE DIED BY AIR ACCIDENTS.

THOUGHTS TO THE FAMILY.

[L Tommo]

R.I.P.



OUT....

[DirtyHarry]

Condolences, to Colin's family & friends.

R.I.P.

[Lounge Lizard]

Why was he using a helicopter to go to "a nearby village - in poor weather with low clouds and rain", and does he have any connections with Royal Mail ?

What that got to do with weather it his right to fly a helicopter if he wanted to and no he doesn't have any connection with royal mail but he did a lot for the rallying

Yes, it was his right, and someone driving motor vehicles at excessive speeds for a living is likely to be a risk taker, but given that they are inherently unsafe using a helicopter unnecessarily in poor weather with low clouds and rain is as irresponsible as leaving your three young children alone in a Portuguese holiday apartment while you're out with friends. My sympathies go to Colin's relatives, just as they go out to the relatives of the other 2999 or so people that died in Britain that day.

[jacee]

Colin McRae was a lifelong Sheffield United fan - the black box recording of his last words was "come on you f***ing blades"

[pilsbury]

Very sad R.I.P.

[DGP1]

Colin McRae was a lifelong Sheffield United fan - the black box recording of his last words was "come on you f***ing blades"

Naughty naughty naughty