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Shoreham air show crash: first three victims named Shoreham air crash: first three victims named
(about 1 hour later)
Three of the seven people killed in Saturday’s Shoreham air show crash have been identified in reports. Shoreham residents gathered to mourn the victims of the Shoreham airshow crash on Sunday, as it emerged that two local footballers and a personal trainer were among the seven people killed.
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Becky Jones said her brother Matt, a 24-year-old personal trainer, was one of those who died. Matthew Grimstone, 23, and Jacob Schilt, players at non-league Worthing United, were among those who have died, with local reports saying they were on their way to a match against Loxwood FC when they were caught up in the incident.
She wrote on Facebook: “Thank you to everyone who has messaged me. We are devastated to say Matt Jones was one of the fatalities.” Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Littlehampton, West Sussex, was also among the victims, his sister said on Facebook.
Two more victims have been named as the Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt. They are thought to have been on their way to play a match against Loxwood FC when they were caught up in the incident. She wrote: “Thank you to everyone who has messaged me. We are devastated to say Matt Jones was one of the fatalities.”
Grimstone was a goalkeeper with the non-league club, and Schilt played in midfield. The game against Loxwood, which was due to kick off at 3pm at Worthing United’s Robert Albon Memorial ground, was called off. Grimstone’s family said he was “the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit”.
Worthing play in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division, and were division two league and cup winners last season. His parents Sue and Phil and brothers David and Paul paid an emotional tribute: “The family are in total shock at losing our dearest son Matthew so tragically at 23 years old.
Fellow player Dean Gilmour paid tribute to his team-mates: “RIP Jacob Shilts & Matthew Grimstone - two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys.” “He was the kindest person you could ever meet with a great wit. In his 23 years we can honestly say he never lost his temper.”
At a memorial service for the victims at St Mary De Haura church in the West Sussex town, many had been personally touched by Saturday’s events after a Hawker Hunter jet plummeted to the ground.
The pilot, named in reports as Andy Hill, who worked for British Airways, is understood to be in a critical condition in hospital.
Mourners packed into the service, during which they held a minute’s silence and said prayers for the victims and their families.
Among the congregation were Jamie McKenzie, 26, and Brad Stevens, 18, who were in full Worthing kit to pay their respects to their team-mates Grimstone and Schilt.
McKenzie said they were devastated by the news. “We’ve been training with them for a couple of months. They were really nice guys. It’s a close club. We’ve only just joined but they were very welcoming.”
The pair said Grimstone and Schilt were in a car on the A27, on their way to a 3pm kickoff.
Stevens said they heard the news via word of mouth. “It’s hit the town really hard. Everyone’s heard about it.”
Related: Shoreham plane crash: police say more bodies may be foundRelated: Shoreham plane crash: police say more bodies may be found
Another Worthing player tweeting as markiovelli said: “Devastated to have lost two team mates and wonderful people. It was a privilege to share a pitch with you. My heart goes out to your families, RIP. Tracy Stevens, 38, of Shoreham, was also at the church service with her footballer son. She said her partner had had a lucky escape while driving on the A27. “My partner called to say he’d just gone past and it [the plane] had crashed behind him. He saw it in the mirror. He was very lucky.”
“I have four medals I am most proud of, wouldn’t have any of them without you. Numb. RIP Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt. No words ...” She described the atmosphere in Shoreham on Sunday as quiet and eerie.
Tracy Stevens, 38, of Shoreham, West Sussex, who attended a church service for the victims of the crash on Sunday morning, said her son knew Grimstone and Schilt. “They were on their way to a match apparently. My son knows Matt and Jacob. He plays for the reserves.” Claire Mulcare, 35, was at the memorial service with her three-year-old son. They had been at the airshow. “We saw the plane ascending, we turned our backs for a minute, we didn’t hear anything, just saw a huge amount of smoke and everything went quiet.”
Local MP Tim Loughton said: “This has been a really tragic event and there will be many personal tragedies as the details unfold. She said she usually attended another church but decided to come to St Mary De Haura because of the memorial service.
“We just wanted to pay our respects. It could have been us. We were 500 metres away.”
Mulcare, from Shoreham, added that a friend had been travelling on the A27 at the time the plane crashed and she had been unable to get hold of her, but was hoping she had not been caught up in the crash.
Related: Shoreham air show disaster – in picturesRelated: Shoreham air show disaster – in pictures
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives and we just hope that there will not be any more bodies found as the police do their grisly duties going through the remains. Father Paul Rupton said there were dozens more people than at the usual at his Sunday service. The local MP, Tim Loughton, was among those present.
“People have come to church to pay their respects, there’s a very sombre mood that something like this could happen at such a happy family day out. He said there was a tremendous sadness in the community. “You have to be honest with people and say ‘I don’t know why these terrible things happen’,” he said. “Hopefully people will go away feeling that they have been supported by the church.”
“We need to wait and find out what exactly has happened and the investigators need to find out exactly how this accident happened. A lot of work goes into ensuring the safety of everybody visiting the airshow. Carson Albury, the chairman of Adur district council, said the community was in a state of shock. “It has really touched everyone and I really feel for the people who were at the airport yesterday and saw the event take place and of course the families of those affected,” he said. “All these occasions like this show that the community is very robust and it brings everyone together.”
“We must make sure everything is done to support the families of those who lost their lives.” Worthing United said the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club were with those whose families and friends were killed or injured. It is understood Grimstone was a goalkeeper, and Schilt played in midfield.
Airshow visitors who left their cars at Shoreham airport were now able to pick them up, police said. Update. pic.twitter.com/T8agevOfmK
Sussex police said only car owners were able to retrieve their vehicles; it was still not possible to remove vans, people carriers and similar-sized vehicles because of a height restriction on the route from the airport. Motorists were being urged to avoid the A27 in the Shoreham area while investigations into the crash continue. Team-mate Dean Gilmour paid tribute to Schilt and Grimstone, saying: “RIP Jacob Shilts & Matthew Grimstone – two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys.”
A meeting room for relatives of casualties of the crash set up at Worthing hospital has now closed, police added. RIP Jacob Shilts & Matthew Grimstone-two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys
A fellow player, tweeting as markiovelli, added: “Devastated to have lost two team mates and wonderful people. It was a privilege to share a pitch with you. My heart goes out to your families, RIP.
“I have four medals I am most proud of, wouldn’t have any of them without you. Numb. RIP Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt. No words ...”
Devastated to have lost 2 team mates and wonderful Ppl it was a privilege to share a pitch with you. My Heart goes out to your families RIP
I have 4 medals I am most proud of, wouldn't have any of them without you. Numb. #rip Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt No words....
Airshow visitors, who were told to leave their cars at the event, began picking up their vehicles on Sunday. Police, however, said it was still not possible to remove vans, people carriers and other similar sized vehicles because of a height restriction on the route away from the airport.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the A27 in the Shoreham area while investigations continue.
It is understood the Hawker Hunter that crashed belonged to Graham Peacock, an Essex businessman who is head of the Malthurst Group and worth an estimated £50m.
The jet, which is usually kept at North Weald airfield, had passed through the hands of several private owners before he bought it in 2012 for £65,000.
The advertisement described the aircraft as “an immaculate two-seater supersonic T7 which is flown on a regular basis, in excellent condition inside and out”.