Colin McCrae rally champion feared dead (UK)

Rally champion Colin McRae is tonight feared dead after a helicopter licensed in his name came down near Lanark (roughly 10miles from Glasgow).

If this is true then it is a sad day for Rally sport & for the family of one of Scotland's most likeable sportsmen. For the sake of Alison and their two children, Hollie and Johnny, I am hoping he is okay. First reports are that there were no survivors, yet at present it has not been confirmed he was piloting the helicopter.

http://news.aol.co.uk/rally-champion-feared-killed-in-crash/article/20070915161709990002

 

Well, I have sadly stumbled across the following article from The Times (which is generally very accurate). It suggests that Colin McRae, another adult and 2 children were on-board the helicopter when it crashed. No survivors. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2461339.ece

One of the children is believed to be Colin's 5yr old son. The other adult and child have not been named, but are not his wife & daughter.

My deepest sympathy to Alison and his daughter Hollie. I am profoundly saddened.

R.I.P.

 

I echo your sentiments Parris, a very very sad day indeed.

 

So we can expect zombies in his next game then eh?

 

Just read the news. Very sad. R.I.P.

 

Wow. Definately depressing news...

 

My assholish above comment above not with standing that is pretty sad.

 

Not since the passing of Richard Burns have I felt so saddened over the loss of a sportsman.

RIP.

 

I never realised Richard Burns died the same day as George Best. There was very little mention of it here, primarily because football kind of dominates everything in the UK.

The only thing I remembered was that he died of a similar tumour to my late father.

I've always loved Rally and Rally sims. As a kid I remember the cars passing at the back of our house in Perthshire as there were a number of Scottish stages played out near us. A few years later I helped with the communications on Rallies as a member of RAYNET.

Standing next to the track whilst one of those damned cars bounces over bumps and kicks up stones is enough to make you realise just how impressive their driving skills are. The noise is something I can't forget, especially the cracking noise of stones bouncing off into the trees and undergrowth.

A complete adrenaline rush!

 

Very sad news - I came to know the name ouf of the games and I m definetely shocked. A great loss for sports, gamers and his family.

 

=(

 

Sad day for motorsport.

 

Very sad indeed. My condolences to the families.

 

Sympathy goes out to his family, rest in peace Colin.

 

Two legends in their category have passed away this month, in addition of 61 people getting burned alive in the huge fires in Greece. Sad days...

 

And you boast about being an ordained minister? Shame on you.

RIP Mr McRae. He was an awesome rally driver.

 

That sucks. Do they know how or why the helicopter crashed?

 

Currently it is under investigation but apparently neighbours heard the engine make unusual noises minutes before it literally fell from the sky into a wooded area near his home. It sounds like mechanical failure.

Bizarrely enough, the very next day his former boss was involved in a similar helicopter accident on his way back from a racing event. I think it was the manager or chairman of the Subaru rally team. An incredible coincidence.

 

That was Dave Richards - Subaru World Rally Team boss & former BAT F1 team boss. He & his wife were on their way back from the F1 race at Spa, when his aircraft suffered a transmission failure at 1500 ft - came down near North Weald airfield & were lucky to escape without injury.

I think the worst thing about McRae's crash was that there were 2 kids onboard. My thoughts go out to the families involved in that incident & also for those involved in the crash in Thailand this weekend.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6997784.stm

Found the article