Kent airman died in helicopter crash

Kent airman died in helicopter crash

Two Sea Kings collided five miles from the HMS Ark Royal

A Royal Navy airman from Kent has been named as one of seven who died in a collision between two helicopters in the Gulf.

Lieutenant Marc Lawrence, who was in his mid-20s, was from Westgate.

He was based at the navy's air station in Culdrose, Cornwall, and was attached to 849 Squadron operating from HMS Ark Royal in the Gulf.

Lieutenant Lawrence and six others died when two Sea King helicopters collided in the early hours of Saturday morning.

'Very professional'

It is thought one of the helicopters had been refuelling on board the Ark Royal, while the other was believed to have been returning from a mission.

They collided about five miles from the ship.

Lt Lawrence was one of six British servicemen killed in the accident along with one American crew member.

On Saturday, the Ark Royal's Captain Alan Massey paid tribute to the crews, calling them "very professional and superb aviators".