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Shoreham air crash: first three victims named | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
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. | |
Related: Plane's age will not be to blame for Shoreham air show crash, expert claims | Related: Plane's age will not be to blame for Shoreham air show crash, expert claims |
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. | |
Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Littlehampton, West Sussex, was also among the victims, his sister said on Facebook. | |
She wrote: “Thank you to everyone who has messaged me. We are devastated to say Matt Jones was one of the fatalities.” | |
Grimstone’s family said he was “the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit”. | |
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. | |
“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 found | Related: Shoreham plane crash: police say more bodies may be found |
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.” | |
She described the atmosphere in Shoreham on Sunday as quiet and eerie. | |
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.” | |
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 pictures | Related: Shoreham air show disaster – in pictures |
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. | |
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.” | |
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.” | |
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. | |
Update. pic.twitter.com/T8agevOfmK | |
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.” | |
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”. |