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Norfolk helicopter crash leaves four dead | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Four people have been killed in a helicopter crash in rural Norfolk. | |
The civilian aircraft crashed in Gillingham, near Beccles, at about 19:30 GMT, and all four on board were killed at the scene, police said. | |
The accident site is near Gillingham Hall, a stately home owned by Northern Ireland peer Lord Ballyedmond. | |
It is not known what caused the crash but witnesses reported fog in the area at the time and said the helicopter crashed very soon after taking off. | It is not known what caused the crash but witnesses reported fog in the area at the time and said the helicopter crashed very soon after taking off. |
Police said they would not release further details of the victims until their next-of-kin had been informed. | Police said they would not release further details of the victims until their next-of-kin had been informed. |
They also refused to comment on where it had taken off from or what its destination was. | |
Inspector Louis Provart of Norfolk Police said: "Emergency services are working together in difficult conditions to secure the scene and carry out an initial investigation into the circumstances. | |
Three ambulances, two doctors and one rapid response car were called to the scene, along with a police helicopter and fire services. | |
'Big bang' | 'Big bang' |
A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it would be sending a team to investigate the crash site. | A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it would be sending a team to investigate the crash site. |
Gillingham is a small village in the south of Norfolk with a population of about 650. | Gillingham is a small village in the south of Norfolk with a population of about 650. |
James Avery, 34, from Great Yarmouth, said he was sitting on a bench drinking tea with a friend when he heard the helicopter take off. | James Avery, 34, from Great Yarmouth, said he was sitting on a bench drinking tea with a friend when he heard the helicopter take off. |
He said: "I was outside McDonald's in Beccles and heard the helicopter take off from across the road. | He said: "I was outside McDonald's in Beccles and heard the helicopter take off from across the road. |
"It was flying low and no more than 30 seconds later I heard a big bang followed by the sound of the turbine engine quickly stopping. | "It was flying low and no more than 30 seconds later I heard a big bang followed by the sound of the turbine engine quickly stopping. |
"It was like a whistling sound. | "It was like a whistling sound. |
"Me and a friend ran across the road to the field where we thought it may have crashed but with the heavy fog, we were unable to see much of anything. | "Me and a friend ran across the road to the field where we thought it may have crashed but with the heavy fog, we were unable to see much of anything. |
"There were some guys on scooters who were already in the field. So we just went back to McDonald's and got the attendant to ring the emergency services." | "There were some guys on scooters who were already in the field. So we just went back to McDonald's and got the attendant to ring the emergency services." |
'Very foggy' | 'Very foggy' |
Taxi driver Mark Murray, 22, from Beccles, said: "There is a large stately home nearby and you often see helicopters coming and going from there. | Taxi driver Mark Murray, 22, from Beccles, said: "There is a large stately home nearby and you often see helicopters coming and going from there. |
"When they have a game shoot the guests often all arrive in separate helicopters. We don't know if that is linked, but that's the only helicopter activity we see in this area." | "When they have a game shoot the guests often all arrive in separate helicopters. We don't know if that is linked, but that's the only helicopter activity we see in this area." |
Roland Bronk, owner of The Swan House inn and restaurant in Beccles, said it had been "very foggy" in the area. | Roland Bronk, owner of The Swan House inn and restaurant in Beccles, said it had been "very foggy" in the area. |
The site of the crash is about 45 miles from where four crew members died when a US military helicopter crashed in Norfolk on a training mission in a nature reserve in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, in January. | The site of the crash is about 45 miles from where four crew members died when a US military helicopter crashed in Norfolk on a training mission in a nature reserve in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, in January. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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