Crash probe follows McRae tragedy

12 April 2012

Air accident investigators are due to resume work at the site of a helicopter crash which killed former world rally champion Colin McRae.

The 39-year-old's son Johnny, aged just five, also died in the accident at the weekend along with six-year-old Ben Porcelli, of Lanark, and Graeme Duncan, 37, who lived in France.

McRae, a licensed pilot, was flying the plane when it went down in the grounds of his Jerviswood home, about a mile north of Lanark, at 4.10pm on Saturday.

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said the crash site will remain off limits while the examination continues.

The bodies of the victims were removed from the scene of the wreckage in hearses on Sunday night.

Post-mortems will be carried out over the next few days, the police spokeswoman confirmed.

McRae hails from a well-known motor racing family, with his father Jimmy a five-time British rally champion. He has a wife Alison and daughter Hollie.

Jimmy McRae last night described the death of his son and grandson as "unbelievable" and "tragic".

Ben Porcelli was a friend of McRae's son, while Mr Duncan was a school friend of the driver who was home on holiday.

The death has stunned motorsport fans around the world, with tributes being paid by three-time Formula One world champion and fellow Scot Sir Jackie Stewart, as well as current Scottish F1 ace David Coulthard.

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