Hunt supporter killed by gyrocopter

Published on 10/03/2009 11:58

Members of a hunt had complained to the Civil Aviation Authority about a gyrocopter following them just days before one of its supporters was killed in a collision at an airfield, it emerged today.

Trevor Morse died after he was hit by a gyrocopter at Long Marston airfield near Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, as he followed a hunt yesterday afternoon.

Two people travelling in the aircraft were arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder following the incident, which happened just after 3pm. The pair remain in police custody this morning.

Warwickshire Hunt master Sam Butler said: "A gyrocopter had been following us for a couple of weeks and we had made a formal complaint to the Civil Aviation Authority ten days ago."

Mr Butler said he was unable to speculate on why the gyrocopter was following the hunt and was awaiting the result of the police inquiry.

He added: "It is a tragic but fatal accident, our first and foremost thoughts are with Trevor's family and we must wait for the facts and the truth ourselves.

"He was a very great supporter, a passionate believer in country sports and hunting and the tribute I pay is not only to him but to his family.

"This man was the most loyal and most high quality supporter of hunting you will ever find.

"Outside his family, it was the most important thing to him."

Mr Butler said Mr Morse had been following the hunt yesterday afternoon when tragedy struck.

Experts from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch were today at the scene of the collision.

A spokeswoman for the AAIB said two investigators had this morning been deployed to the scene, where the gyrocopter remains.

Police officers were also at the scene this morning are were likely to remain there for some time, a police spokeswoman said.

Last night Mr Morse's partner Caroline Morse, speaking at their home in Alderminster, near Stratford, confirmed he had died in the incident but

declined to comment on the circumstances.

Emergency services were called to the scene to reports of a collision involving an aircraft and a pedestrian, believed to be in his 40s, who

was pronounced dead at the scene.

Long Marston airfield, an RAF base between 1941 and 1954, is now home to the Avon Microlight club, Freedom Sports Aviation, and the Shakespeare County Raceway Dragstrip.

The site is also well-known for dance festival Global Gathering and the Bulldog Bash motorbike show and festival.

West Midlands Ambulance Service yesterday said crews sent to the scene assessed the pedestrian but nothing could be done to save him and he

was confirmed dead at the scene.

A spokeswoman said no-one else was injured in the incident.