NI peer among four dead in Norfolk helicopter crash

A helicopter came down in thick fog in a field in Gillingham, near Beccles, after 7.30pm on Thursday with all four people on board pronounced dead at the scene.

One of the people killed was Northern Ireland peer Lord Ballyedmond, who was chairman of Norbrook, the largest privately owned pharmaceutical company in the world.

According to the register of Lords’ interests, he owned Gillingham Hall, a stately home near the crash site.

The helicopter is believed to have been flying to Northern Ireland, but police refused to comment on where it had taken off from or what its destination was.

The victims have not been formally identified yet while officers contact their next of kin.

Inspector Louis Provart said: “Emergency services are working together in difficult conditions to secure the scene and carry out an initial investigation into the circumstances.

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those who have sadly lost their lives this evening.”

Members of the public reported hearing a loud crash, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been informed and a team will be sent to investigate the crash.

Three ambulances, two doctors and one rapid response car attended the scene, along with a police helicopter and fire services.

A spokeswoman for East of England Ambulance Service said: “Sadly, it is believed that four people in the helicopter are believed to have died in the crash. Ambulance resources have now been stood down from the scene. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives.”

Roland Bronk, owner of the Swan House inn and restaurant in Beccles, said it was “very foggy” in the area. Mr Bronk said he heard customers talk about “a lot of police activity and ambulances”.

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.”

Norfolk Police said the crash site will remain cordoned off today while officers carry out a forensic examination of the scene.

The scene is 45 miles from the spot where four crew members died when a US military helicopter crashed on a training mission in a nature reserve.