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| Kobe Bryant: Basketball legend dies in helicopter crash | Kobe Bryant: Basketball legend dies in helicopter crash |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US basketball legend Kobe Bryant was among five people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California. | US basketball legend Kobe Bryant was among five people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California. |
| Bryant, 41, was travelling in a private helicopter when it crashed and burst into flames, according to reports. | Bryant, 41, was travelling in a private helicopter when it crashed and burst into flames, according to reports. |
| The five-time NBA champion was widely considered one of the greatest players in the game's history. | The five-time NBA champion was widely considered one of the greatest players in the game's history. |
| Tributes from celebrities and fellow sports stars have been pouring in, many expressing shock at his sudden death. | Tributes from celebrities and fellow sports stars have been pouring in, many expressing shock at his sudden death. |
| "Please no. Please god no. It can't be true," basketball player Kevin Love wrote on Twitter. | "Please no. Please god no. It can't be true," basketball player Kevin Love wrote on Twitter. |
| The identities of the other victims have not yet been released. 33 | |
| What do we know about the crash? | What do we know about the crash? |
| In a statement, the City of Calabasas said it was "with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash". | In a statement, the City of Calabasas said it was "with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash". |
| "The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt," it added. | "The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt," it added. |
| Gavin Masak, who lives nearby, told CBS News of the moment the helicopter crashed. | Gavin Masak, who lives nearby, told CBS News of the moment the helicopter crashed. |
| "It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet, like it was loud, so I went inside and told my dad what was happening. So when I came out I saw smoke on the hill but it wasn't like a big, black cloud of smoke, it was just grey," he said. | "It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet, like it was loud, so I went inside and told my dad what was happening. So when I came out I saw smoke on the hill but it wasn't like a big, black cloud of smoke, it was just grey," he said. |
| Other eyewitnesses told celebrity news site TMZ they heard the helicopter's engine sputtering before it went down. | |
| The LA County Sheriff's Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills. | The LA County Sheriff's Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills. |
| The US Federal Aviation Administration identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76. It said it was investigating the accident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board. | The US Federal Aviation Administration identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76. It said it was investigating the accident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board. |
| Officials were set to give further details at a press conference expected to begin at about 22:30 GMT. | |
| Who was Bryant? | Who was Bryant? |
| Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 2016. | Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 2016. |
| His achievements include being the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also NBA scoring champion twice and a two-time Olympic champion. | |
| He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. | |
| He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in 2018 for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015. | He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in 2018 for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015. |
| Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have four daughters: Gianna, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. | Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have four daughters: Gianna, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. |
| Bryant was accused of sexual assault in 2003 by a 19-year-old woman working at a Colorado resort. He denied the allegation, saying the two had consensual sex. The case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify in court. | |
| He later apologised, saying he recognised that "she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did." A subsequent civil suit was settled out of court. | |
| What has the reaction been? | What has the reaction been? |
| Tributes for the sports star poured in on social media following news of the crash. | Tributes for the sports star poured in on social media following news of the crash. |
| Shaquille O'Neal, who played alongside Bryant at the Lakers between 1996 and 2004, said there were "no words to express the pain I'm going through". | |
| "I love you and you will be missed," he wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair in their Lakers kits. | |
| Deron Williams, who won an Olympic gold alongside Bryant, said he was lost for words. He described Bryant as "the greatest competitor I have ever gone up against and played with." | Deron Williams, who won an Olympic gold alongside Bryant, said he was lost for words. He described Bryant as "the greatest competitor I have ever gone up against and played with." |
| Former basketball player Tony Parker said he was "heartbroken". | Former basketball player Tony Parker said he was "heartbroken". |
| "Terrible news," wrote US President Donald Trump. | "Terrible news," wrote US President Donald Trump. |
| Former US President Barack Obama described Bryant as "a legend on the court" and said he was "just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act". | |
| Eight-time Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt said he could not believe the news. | |
| Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling wrote "rest easy legend" in a tweet accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the sports star. | Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling wrote "rest easy legend" in a tweet accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the sports star. |
| "This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb," American actress and model Chrissy Teigen tweeted. | "This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb," American actress and model Chrissy Teigen tweeted. |
| Pop star Mariah Carey said she was in shock. | |
| Fans gathered at a makeshift memorial for Bryant in front of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, laying flowers and basketballs in memory of the star. |