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| Shoreham airshow crash: formal identification of victims begins | Shoreham airshow crash: formal identification of victims begins |
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| Formal identification of the victims of the Shoreham airshow crash has begun, with the recovery of most of the remains from the scene almost complete, the West Sussex coroner has said. Eleven people are believed to have died in Saturday’s incident when a Hawker Hunter jet ploughed into the A27. | Formal identification of the victims of the Shoreham airshow crash has begun, with the recovery of most of the remains from the scene almost complete, the West Sussex coroner has said. Eleven people are believed to have died in Saturday’s incident when a Hawker Hunter jet ploughed into the A27. |
| Meanwhile, Andrew Hill, the pilot of the jet who was left fighting for his life, has been moved to a specialist hospital for treatment. | Meanwhile, Andrew Hill, the pilot of the jet who was left fighting for his life, has been moved to a specialist hospital for treatment. |
| The recovery operation, which saw the plane’s fuselage moved from the crash site using a crane on Monday, has been hampered over the past two days by heavy rain and winds of more than 40mph. | The recovery operation, which saw the plane’s fuselage moved from the crash site using a crane on Monday, has been hampered over the past two days by heavy rain and winds of more than 40mph. |
| West Sussex county council’s senior coroner, Penny Schofield, said that most remains had, however, been removed. She said: “Recovery of all the remains from the scene is almost complete due to the extremely hard work and dedication of police teams and archaeologists, who have been working in extremely difficult conditions. | West Sussex county council’s senior coroner, Penny Schofield, said that most remains had, however, been removed. She said: “Recovery of all the remains from the scene is almost complete due to the extremely hard work and dedication of police teams and archaeologists, who have been working in extremely difficult conditions. |
| “We will now begin the formal process of identifying all of the victims of this horrific tragedy. Recovering all of the remains has been a very slow and painstaking operation, but it has been necessary to ensure we establish, without doubt, individual positive identifications.” | “We will now begin the formal process of identifying all of the victims of this horrific tragedy. Recovering all of the remains has been a very slow and painstaking operation, but it has been necessary to ensure we establish, without doubt, individual positive identifications.” |
| Hill was placed in a medically induced coma at the Royal Sussex County hospital following the incident, but has now been moved to an undisclosed location. An NHS spokesman told reporters: “He is in a critical but stable condition, but has been moved to an unnamed specialist hospital.” | Hill was placed in a medically induced coma at the Royal Sussex County hospital following the incident, but has now been moved to an undisclosed location. An NHS spokesman told reporters: “He is in a critical but stable condition, but has been moved to an unnamed specialist hospital.” |
| It is believed the jet’s seats were in place when it was found, suggesting that Hill may not have ejected before impact. | It is believed the jet’s seats were in place when it was found, suggesting that Hill may not have ejected before impact. |
| At times, about 200 workers from more than 20 different agencies have been at the scene of the crash on the A27, which is not expected to reopen until Saturday at the earliest. | At times, about 200 workers from more than 20 different agencies have been at the scene of the crash on the A27, which is not expected to reopen until Saturday at the earliest. |
| Schofield said the identification process would involve a large team of specialists, including forensic scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, odontologists and pathologists. A CT scanner has been taken to the mortuary to enable a full scan of all the remains. | Schofield said the identification process would involve a large team of specialists, including forensic scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, odontologists and pathologists. A CT scanner has been taken to the mortuary to enable a full scan of all the remains. |
| The coroner said she had met the families of those believed to have lost their lives to explain the process. Once identification is complete, inquests will be opened into the deaths. | The coroner said she had met the families of those believed to have lost their lives to explain the process. Once identification is complete, inquests will be opened into the deaths. |
| The apparent death toll of 11 is based on people reported missing to the police, although authorities have warned it is possible it could rise if, for example, family or friends have not contacted them with their concerns. | The apparent death toll of 11 is based on people reported missing to the police, although authorities have warned it is possible it could rise if, for example, family or friends have not contacted them with their concerns. |
| Four victims have been named by friends and family, as have two other people who have been missing since Saturday’s disaster. Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23 and Worthing United footballers, Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer, and Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton, a wedding chauffeur, are among those who died. | Four victims have been named by friends and family, as have two other people who have been missing since Saturday’s disaster. Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23 and Worthing United footballers, Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer, and Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton, a wedding chauffeur, are among those who died. |
| It is feared that Daniele Polito, who was travelling in the same car as Jones when the plane crashed, and motorcyclist Mark Trussler, from Worthing, have also been killed. | It is feared that Daniele Polito, who was travelling in the same car as Jones when the plane crashed, and motorcyclist Mark Trussler, from Worthing, have also been killed. |
| Sussex chief constable, Giles York, laid a wreath on Wednesday on the Old Shoreham toll bridge that has become a memorial to those who lost their lives. He said that police were working closely with the coroner and his officers were at pains to show a “human touch” to those feared to have lost loved ones. | |
| “It’s not about turning round to families and using phrases like: ‘We cannot confirm nor deny who we think is there,’” he told Sky News. “But what we are trying to say to them is: ‘We most likely think it’s your loved one who might be at the heart of this,’ and putting support in place.” | “It’s not about turning round to families and using phrases like: ‘We cannot confirm nor deny who we think is there,’” he told Sky News. “But what we are trying to say to them is: ‘We most likely think it’s your loved one who might be at the heart of this,’ and putting support in place.” |
| He said the force had 24 family liaison officers trying to help the families come to terms with what had happened. | He said the force had 24 family liaison officers trying to help the families come to terms with what had happened. |
| Emergency services Chiefs lay wreaths and observe a silence near the Shoreham air crash site. pic.twitter.com/5NzxVcILYb | Emergency services Chiefs lay wreaths and observe a silence near the Shoreham air crash site. pic.twitter.com/5NzxVcILYb |
| York, who was joined by fire and ambulance service chiefs in laying tributes to the dead, praised the Shoreham community, as well as local companies, who he said had been patient during the disruption and offered packages of food as well as support to the emergency service workers. He said there had been a “huge amount of compassion coming through from the community in helping us get the answers for the families who are affected”. | |
| The memorial on the footbridge has continued to expand. Among the wreaths was one laid on behalf of the home secretary, Theresa May, which read: “My deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have died and have been injured.” | The memorial on the footbridge has continued to expand. Among the wreaths was one laid on behalf of the home secretary, Theresa May, which read: “My deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have died and have been injured.” |
| A wreath laid on behalf of Home Secretary Theresa May near the Shoreham air crash site. pic.twitter.com/quyHNgnwuQ | A wreath laid on behalf of Home Secretary Theresa May near the Shoreham air crash site. pic.twitter.com/quyHNgnwuQ |
| Another bouquet was left by Michael Sturgess, who said he and his eight-year-old son Louis were saved from death by the fact that Abrahams gave way to him. “I had come on to the A27, and then he let me in because the traffic was so bad. We went through the traffic lights, the traffic lights went red and that’s when he got hit,” Sturgess told the BBC. “My little boy saw it all happen ... as I went around the bend the plane came down and he saw everything.” | Another bouquet was left by Michael Sturgess, who said he and his eight-year-old son Louis were saved from death by the fact that Abrahams gave way to him. “I had come on to the A27, and then he let me in because the traffic was so bad. We went through the traffic lights, the traffic lights went red and that’s when he got hit,” Sturgess told the BBC. “My little boy saw it all happen ... as I went around the bend the plane came down and he saw everything.” |
| NHS services in Sussex and Brighton & Hove announced on Wednesday that they had set up three dedicated phone lines, which will operate until 18 September, offering psychological support for those affected by Saturday’s events. A spokesman said: “Many people may have witnessed or been affected by the events – some of them at very close quarters. It is understandable that this may cause significant psychological or emotional impact.” | |
| An airshow scheduled to take place at Durham Tees Valley airport on Saturday has been postponed in light of the tragedy. Skylive Events announced that the incident, together with the Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to impose restrictions on the operation of airshows, meant that the event would not be going ahead as scheduled. | |
| The event has been rescheduled for 28 May 2016 and tickets issued for this weekend will remain valid. | The event has been rescheduled for 28 May 2016 and tickets issued for this weekend will remain valid. |
| Chris Petty of Skylive said: “Obviously this is not a decision we have taken lightly because we appreciate that thousands of people were looking forward to having a great day out this Saturday. We had put together an excellent programme of events but clearly the tragedy at Shoreham has forced us to consider very carefully whether it would be right to go ahead.” | Chris Petty of Skylive said: “Obviously this is not a decision we have taken lightly because we appreciate that thousands of people were looking forward to having a great day out this Saturday. We had put together an excellent programme of events but clearly the tragedy at Shoreham has forced us to consider very carefully whether it would be right to go ahead.” |