Colin McRae

[Owenmoresider]

Former WRC champion is believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash. From BBC:

Rally driver feared dead in crash 
 


Profile of a sporting legend 
Former world rally champion Colin McRae is believed to have been killed along with three others in a helicopter crash near his home in Lanarkshire.
The helicopter, which police believe was owned by Mr McRae, 39, came down at 1610 BST in Jerviswood, about a mile from Lanark, and caught fire.

Strathclyde Police said Colin McRae, a keen pilot, is thought to have been on board with three others.

However formal identification of those killed still has to be carried out.

Strathclyde Police said the damage to the Squirrel aircraft was so bad it was initially unclear how many people had died.

A police statement said: "Around 1610 BST on Saturday, 15 September 2007, emergency services were called to a helicopter crash in Jerviswood, east of the A73 at Lanark.

"There are no survivors."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed and will carry out a full inquiry.

Police have been conducting a full scene examination and area search.


There were no survivors of the crash on the outskirts of Lanark

The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that its own helicopter had been despatched to the scene along with three ambulance crews and the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service was in attendance.

An RAF helicopter was also put on stand-by to assist.

A spokesman for the British Airports Authority said the helicopter did not come from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports, but its flight path is still unknown.

Colin McRae won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1995 driving a Subaru, becoming the first Briton to win the title.

He also was runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001.

He is married to Alison and has two children, Hollie and Johnny.

[Puckoon]

Rest in peace colin.

[Tyrones own]

Terrible news. One of the all time greats. He now joins his friend and competitor Richard Burns. RIP Colin.

  Or Bertie Fisher for that matter.
   RIP

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Its all unconfirmed but the word over here is that McRae's 5 year old son was one of the other 3 on board the helicopter. Terrible time for his wife and daughter.

[Cloc Mor]

A legend - just like his da.  RIP

[hitzelsperger]

grew up worshipping mc rae, he made rallying popular to all..Sadly missed RIP

[Cloc Mor]

All confirmed

McRae dies in helicopter crash
Eurosport - Sun, 16 Sep 13:15:00 2007
Former World Rally champion Colin McRae has been killed after his helicopter crashed near his home in Scotland.

More Stories Colin McRae: 1968 - 2007
39-year-old McRae's body, as well as those of his five-year-old son Johnny and two family friends, have now been identified.

McRae became the first British driver to win the world rally championship in 1995 and, aged 27 at the time, remains the youngest man to do so.

[Aerlik]

Indeed sad news.  There's a terrible tradition in media throughout the world of speculating and hypothesising what went wrong when there is a fatal aviation accident.  However, the Squirrel (which apparently Colin was piloting) has a very good safety record, and many are used here in Western Australia in fire-bombing duties, especially around the Perth area. 

Just heard a jet has gone down in Thailand on the way from Bangkok to Phuket.  Approx. 50% were Europeans.  Terrible weather conditions.

[Goin Down]

Great Rally racer, very sad of the tragedy he died in, RIP Colin.

[The Real Laoislad]

Was shocked to hear this and it's all made worse by the deaths of children as well
RIP all who died

[ziggysego]

Terrible news. RIP.

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

Just heard a jet has gone down in Thailand on the way from Bangkok to Phuket.  Approx. 50% were Europeans.  Terrible weather conditions.

Seems quite a few Irish on that plane in Thailand.

On the news now they're saying they should have landed at another airport. What are the rules about landing in horrendous weather conditions - should it be up to air traffic control to tell the pilots to divert.

Terrible news.

[Star Spangler]

Tragic news and a death not unlike Bertie Fishers.  A legend of a rally driver.  RIP.

[Kentucky Blue]

The word legend is thrown around a lot nowadays but Colin really was a legend.
Very sad, and to have lost the young son is all the more tragic.

RIP

[mannix]

Sorry to hear about this, he was a great sportsman.Always had time for fans from what I hear.Never mind the sports side of it though, for any person to die with their child and friends in such a pointless way is terrible.The world is definetly a poorer place without the likes of him,no doubt in my mind.