Colin McRae feared dead in helicopter crash
By Brendan Montague and Jasper Copping
"Colin McRae, the former world rally driving champion, is feared dead in a helicopter crash in Scotland.
The aircraft burst into flames after it came down in woodland near Lanark, at around 4.10pm, killing everyone on board.
Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, last night told The Sunday Telegraph he had spoken to the driver's brother and that he had confirmed the former champion had been piloting the Squirrel aircraft.
Speaking from his home in Switzerland, Mr Freudiger said he was still in shock and fighting back tears as he said he could not reach Mr McRae's wife, Alison.
He added: "I have heard that it was his aircraft. He was in the helicopter. I cannot believe it was a helicopter pilot error because as my best friend and the godfather of my daughter I know he was a very safe pilot.
"We have been close business partners and friends for seven years. He is the best person I have ever met in my life. I have to try and understand what I have just been told."
The aircraft, which was registered to McRae, came down in Jervis Wood, around a mile from Mr McRae's home at Bellefield Road in Lanark.
The 39-year-old McRae – who has two children, Hollie and Johnny – became Britain's first World Rally Champion in 1995 and was still competing in the sport.
His father, Jimmy, was a five-time British rally champion, while his younger brother, Alister, is also a professional driver. Mr McRae has said he uses his helicopter, as well as a six-seater jet, to travel between his homes in Scotland, Monaco and Majorca.
He once told reporters: "I don't have things for show. I'm not brash and I'm not on an ego trip. If I buy something it is because I genuinely want or need it."
Squirrel helicopters can carry up to six people and police were last night unable to say how many people were on board.
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "There is at least one dead and no one survived the crash. We don't yet know how many people were on board."
The crash was witnessed by a farmer. The aircraft was so badly damaged by fire that police could not initially identify what type it was.
The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that its own helicopter had been despatched to the scene along with three ambulance crews.
Strathclyde Fire Brigade also sent units to the scene.
The RAF spokesman added that its helicopter was on stand-by to assist. Police have cordoned off the area and the Air Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.
A spokesman for the British Airports Authority said the helicopter did not come from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports.
Four people were killed when a Squirrel helicopter crashed in Cambridgeshire, earlier this year. "
Source
Sheesh 
That would really sad and awful
That would really sad and awful
wow thats sucks i enjoyed playing his games & watching him race hope this aint true but if it is r.i.p
that sucks
The latest game should become a tribute since it was just released
The latest game should become a tribute since it was just released
That's a bummer. The games were really fun to play!
That's sad news
Quote - (Nicholas-c @ Sep 15 2007, 21:35) 
that sucks
The latest game should become a tribute since it was just released
The latest game should become a tribute since it was just released
Such a sad thing to happen
Quote - "The Sunday Times"
THE former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm.
Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult and another child. Police said there were no survivors.
McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.
McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games.
The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's home, Jervis House, a 16th-century tower house, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with a light breeze, but visibility was good.
Strathclyde police said the extent of the fire damage was making identification a problem.
McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. She looked calm, but neighbours gathering outside the house looked shaken with grief.
McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart who flew with the champion several times described him as a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly.
"As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.
"It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver."
Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult and another child. Police said there were no survivors.
McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.
McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games.
The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's home, Jervis House, a 16th-century tower house, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with a light breeze, but visibility was good.
Strathclyde police said the extent of the fire damage was making identification a problem.
McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. She looked calm, but neighbours gathering outside the house looked shaken with grief.
McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart who flew with the champion several times described him as a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly.
"As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.
"It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver."
RIP Colin
RIP Colin McRae (and whomever passed away with him, hopefully not his son)
Hopefully your name will go on for many years to come with those rally games we all love
Hopefully your name will go on for many years to come with those rally games we all love
thats very sad... R.I.P.
whoaw... can't believe it... thats so sudden!
Glassed Silver:mac
whoaw... can't believe it... thats so sudden!
Glassed Silver:mac
Sad day. 
are there any confirmed links to this or what? cuse the bbc http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotlan...est/6996860.stm says that it was a crash near his house but they never mention that it was him.
nvm i found that its on digg already.
nvm i found that its on digg already.
I am absolutely stunned by this tragic news. One of the greatest drivers of his generation.
My condolences to his family.
Thank you for many years of fantastic Rallying, Colin.
R.I.P.
My condolences to his family.
Thank you for many years of fantastic Rallying, Colin.
R.I.P.
RIP Colin McRae and also whomever was with with you
wow RIP
this is shocking. rest in peace.
I need to gather my thoughts.. so many great drives ... and such a spectacular combination with Nicky Grist.
Shellshocked seems such a trivial thing to say.
Shellshocked seems such a trivial thing to say.
wow this is really sad he was a great driver.
he was a great driver.
So sad. RIP Colin.
RIP Colin.
This is so very sad
Tragic news - He really was a legend.
R.I.P
R.I.P
What a shame, i used to follow McRae when he drove for Subaru, then Ford and then Citroen, i remember his big crash when he hit a cow(or a bull i cant remember) and went down the edge of the cliff.
He was an awesome rally driver, RIP.
He was an awesome rally driver, RIP.
Shocking news to wake up to today
Rest in peace!
Rest in peace!
I wonder why they dont state the cause of the crash
Quote - (Shof @ Sep 16 2007, 16:01)
I wonder why they dont state the cause of the crash
They probably don't fully know yet...could be bad weather could be fault with the helicopter.
Quote -
Rally champion Colin McRae, his five-year-old son, a six-year-old boy and a family friend have been killed in a helicopter crash.
Strathclyde Police released the names of the four people they thought were on board the crashed aircraft on Saturday.
Mr McRae, 39, his son Johnny, the youngster's friend Ben Porcelli and family friend Graeme Duncan, 37, were all thought to be on board.
Formal identification is expected in the next few days.
Ch Supt Tim Love from Strathclyde Police said the crash was not survivable and it was very difficult to tell the aircraft had been a helicopter.
He added that the families have been shattered by the news.
Air accident investigators have started searching the helicopter crash site near Mr McRae's home in Lanarkshire on Saturday.
The Scottish Subaru Imprezza Owners' Club have been leaving tributes at the entrance to the house.
About 40 firefighters attended the accident which happened in woods just north of Lanark at 1600 BST.
Motorsport pays tribute
Users of the rally champion's official website www.colinmcrae.com were greeted by a black screen on Sunday with no information available.
Police have been at the scene throughout the night and a cordon has been thrown around the area, including a private road up to the McRae family home.
Mr McRae, who is married with two young children, was Britain's first rally world champion in 1995 and is the son of five times British rallying champion Jimmy McRae.
Wider fame
Mr McRae admitted to enjoying the adrenaline rush of activities such as bungee jumping and was a keen pilot.
Nicky Grist, his co-driver since 1997, said: "Colin was always regarded as being a bit of a risk-taker in cars, but when it came to flying a helicopter he was a totally different man.
"The one thing he always told me, he said 'You don't mess about with a helicopter. They are bigger and better than I am and you have to drive them as such."
Mr McRae moved to the principality of Monaco in 1995, partly through his friendship with David Coulthard.
But as his family grew up, he spent more time back at his home in Lanarkshire. He and his wife Alison bought the 17th century Jerviswood House.
Rev Bryan Kerr, minister of Lanark Greyfriars Church and a neighbour of the McRae family, said: "A lot of people have been stunned by this and our thoughts go out to all of the families affected.
"This will be hugely devastating, particularly in such a small community. You just don't expect these things to happen on your doorstep especially when it is someone who is so well known and well liked in the town.
"The town's ministers have spoken to each other and special prayers will be offered for all those affected by the tragedy and remembering those who are working on the rescue efforts and trying to piece together what happened."
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Colin McRae was an outstanding Scottish sportsman of international stature and achievement.
"His death is a great tragedy, and my thoughts and condolences are with all the families and friends bereaved by this terrible accident."
Video games
His brother, Alister, is also a professional rally driver and has enjoyed some success, including winning the British Rally Championship in 1995.
Mr McRae's sister is a doctor at the University Hospital in County Durham and she too enjoys rally driving.
Police at Colin McRae's home
The crash happened near the rally champion's home
He also achieved wider fame by endorsing a range of successful video games. Codemasters released the first Colin McRae Rally title in 1998.
'Colin McRae: DiRT' was the title for the latest instalment of the games series which launched this year on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Stars from the world of motorsport have been paying tribute to Mr McRae.
Fellow Scot and Formula One ace David Coulthard, said: "He and Alison were good friends and I cannot imagine either without the other.
"He was fearless, flamboyant, blindingly quick in the car.
"We had some great times and his passing is a terrible blow for the McRae family and everyone who came in contact with him."
Strathclyde Police released the names of the four people they thought were on board the crashed aircraft on Saturday.
Mr McRae, 39, his son Johnny, the youngster's friend Ben Porcelli and family friend Graeme Duncan, 37, were all thought to be on board.
Formal identification is expected in the next few days.
Ch Supt Tim Love from Strathclyde Police said the crash was not survivable and it was very difficult to tell the aircraft had been a helicopter.
He added that the families have been shattered by the news.
Air accident investigators have started searching the helicopter crash site near Mr McRae's home in Lanarkshire on Saturday.
The Scottish Subaru Imprezza Owners' Club have been leaving tributes at the entrance to the house.
About 40 firefighters attended the accident which happened in woods just north of Lanark at 1600 BST.
Motorsport pays tribute
Users of the rally champion's official website www.colinmcrae.com were greeted by a black screen on Sunday with no information available.
Police have been at the scene throughout the night and a cordon has been thrown around the area, including a private road up to the McRae family home.
Mr McRae, who is married with two young children, was Britain's first rally world champion in 1995 and is the son of five times British rallying champion Jimmy McRae.
Wider fame
Mr McRae admitted to enjoying the adrenaline rush of activities such as bungee jumping and was a keen pilot.
Nicky Grist, his co-driver since 1997, said: "Colin was always regarded as being a bit of a risk-taker in cars, but when it came to flying a helicopter he was a totally different man.
"The one thing he always told me, he said 'You don't mess about with a helicopter. They are bigger and better than I am and you have to drive them as such."
Mr McRae moved to the principality of Monaco in 1995, partly through his friendship with David Coulthard.
But as his family grew up, he spent more time back at his home in Lanarkshire. He and his wife Alison bought the 17th century Jerviswood House.
Rev Bryan Kerr, minister of Lanark Greyfriars Church and a neighbour of the McRae family, said: "A lot of people have been stunned by this and our thoughts go out to all of the families affected.
"This will be hugely devastating, particularly in such a small community. You just don't expect these things to happen on your doorstep especially when it is someone who is so well known and well liked in the town.
"The town's ministers have spoken to each other and special prayers will be offered for all those affected by the tragedy and remembering those who are working on the rescue efforts and trying to piece together what happened."
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Colin McRae was an outstanding Scottish sportsman of international stature and achievement.
"His death is a great tragedy, and my thoughts and condolences are with all the families and friends bereaved by this terrible accident."
Video games
His brother, Alister, is also a professional rally driver and has enjoyed some success, including winning the British Rally Championship in 1995.
Mr McRae's sister is a doctor at the University Hospital in County Durham and she too enjoys rally driving.
Police at Colin McRae's home
The crash happened near the rally champion's home
He also achieved wider fame by endorsing a range of successful video games. Codemasters released the first Colin McRae Rally title in 1998.
'Colin McRae: DiRT' was the title for the latest instalment of the games series which launched this year on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Stars from the world of motorsport have been paying tribute to Mr McRae.
Fellow Scot and Formula One ace David Coulthard, said: "He and Alison were good friends and I cannot imagine either without the other.
"He was fearless, flamboyant, blindingly quick in the car.
"We had some great times and his passing is a terrible blow for the McRae family and everyone who came in contact with him."
Well it has been confirmed now. It is such a shame that his five year old son died, not to mention one of his sons friends - a six year old. It must of been a terrible crash for the debris not to have been recognisable as a helicopter...I suppose that is also why the bodies where not ID'd straight away. Such a tragic accident
.Rest In Peace Colin McRae and all those who died alongside him
Rest in Peace! The saddest thing is two children died too
Still cant believe this news, its a huge shame.
I'm truely shocked about this. R.I.P Colin McRae.
Just watching something on the news about him
That's terrible
This is awful. Very sad news indeed. I read this while playing Colin McRae Dirt aswell
RIP. That really sucks for him and his son.
that's sad
wow, so sad. RIP, Colin!
R.I.P.
Just tragic the kids were involved to. Extremely sad.
Condolences to all families involved.
Just tragic the kids were involved to. Extremely sad.
Condolences to all families involved.
He helped design my car
RIP Colin McRae
Couldn't believe the news when I read it, completely shocked
Couldn't believe the news when I read it, completely shocked
Quote - (funkymunky @ Sep 16 2007, 21:54)
OMG - that is insane! Some coincidence.
Its a sad day for the world of motorsport - my thoughts are with his wife who has to face losing a son and a husband in the same day - terrible
R.I.P Colin McRae
Sad news indeed.
Such a sad day! I cant imagine what his wife and daughter are going through!
http://www.colinmcrae.com/
Condolences for the family
http://www.colinmcrae.com/
Condolences for the family
I just had to leave a message. 
very sad news. RIP Colin.
very sad news. RIP Colin.
This is terrible news. I can't believe those children passed away as well. R.I.P.
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