Coulthard risked his life in attempt to save pilots

The Formula One driver risked his own life, running back to the burning Lear jet's cockpit, which had split off in the crash, but "there was nothing I could do".

The 29-year-old Scot spoke after flying to Barcelona on another private Lear jet to begin preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

As he expressed his "heartfelt sympathies" for the families of pilots David Saunders and Dan Worley, details emerged of the crash at Lyon airport in France.

"We had time to prepare ourselves for the landing in the brace position," said Coulthard. "When the plane finally came to rest, the front of the cockpit had broken

free from the fuselage. At this point we established the only way out was through the front of the aircraft."

The plane, which was carrying Coulthard, his fiancee, Heidi Wichlinski, 26, and personal trainer Andy Matthews, developed engine problems en route from

Farnborough to Nice.

Although still bruised and shaken, Coulthard will climb into his 200mph McLaren-Mercedes today to practise.

Last night, David Worley, whose son, Dan, was the co-pilot of the stricken jet, said it would be a tribute to the dead pilots if Coulthard won.

"If David Coulthard was able to perform what would seem to be an impossible task of stepping into a Grand Prix car and winning so soon after this accident, I

would be very happy," said Mr Worley.

Coulthard had chartered the Lear 35 jet to return to his home in Monte Carlo.

Reading from a prepared statement, he said: "First of all, I would like to express our heartfelt sympathies for the families of the two pilots who behaved in the utmost

professional manner throughout the incident."

During the flight, the captain told Coulthard and the other passengers an engine problem was forcing him to make an emergency landing.

"On impact, the plane's wing tanks ruptured on the right-hand side and caught light," said Coulthard.

The passengers were then forced to scrambled to safety through the mangled metal at the front of the Lear jet. "I followed Andy out and because of the debris it was

about three or four feet above the ground. I then helped Heidi out."

He added: "Once we were all out I immediately returned to the aircraft to see if there was anything I could do for the pilots. But there was nothing I could do and

within a minute the emergency services had arrived to take over."

Coulthard, his American fiancee and his trainer had travelled from his flat in Monaco to Barcelona on another private Lear jet owned by Tag, one of the main

sponsors of his McLaren team.

They were joined in Barcelona by Coulthard's parents, Duncan and Joyce, from Twynholm, Dumfriesshire.

He said he would help the French investigation into the accident of the plane, owned by David Murray, the chairman of Rangers, but operated by a Manchester

aviation firm.

"I appreciate there is a lot of media and public interest in the incident. But my profession is motor racing and now I want to focus on this grand prix and trying to win

the world championship," he added.

The wives of the two dead pilots were too upset to comment yesterday.

Mr Saunders' wife, Sarah-Jane, and her daughters, aged two and four, were being comforted by her family in Glossop, Derbyshire. Mr Worley's wife, Anne, who is

eight months' pregnant, and their daughter Johanna, two, were also coming to terms with the tragedy.

But David Worley said he was relieved that his son had managed to save the lives of his passengers.

"Some people have said Coulthard should not race this weekend as a mark of respect for the pilots, but I do not agree," said Mr Worley, 56, a computer software

specialist.

"These pilots should be regarded as heroes and I hope David Coulthard justifies their sacrifice by winning every race. I take my hat of to him."

He was speaking from his home in Hendon, north London, where he has been joined by his three other sons and his ex-wife Christine.

"The pilots did what they had to do. They knew their responsibility was not to the company or the plane, but to the passengers," he said.