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THE BODIES OF the victims of the helicopter crash that killed basketball player Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others have started to be recovered.
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion who played for the LA Lakers throughout his 20-year career, is widely considered to be among the greatest players in basketball history.
As investigators continue to scour the crash site in Los Angeles, tributes to the 41-year-old have been paid on social media and outside the Lakers home court at the Staples Centre.
Thousands of mourners gathered to pay tribute at a vigil, while fellow Laker LeBron James wrote of being “heartbroken and devastated” at the news.
LA County sheriff Alex Villanueva said the difficult terrain of the hillside crash site meant it would take some time for all of the victims’ bodies to be recovered and officially identified.
“The coroner… started recovering human remains last night and they’re continuing (that process) for the next several days,” he said.
“It’s rugged terrain and it’s a very steep hill. In fact, they had to bulldoze a road just to get a normal-size vehicle to the location, so it is very difficult.”
The pilot of the helicopter told air traffic controllers he was climbing to avoid a layer of cloud shortly before the crash into a hillside in Calabasas, west of Los Angeles, on Sunday, according to the National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB).
The pilot Ara Zobayan received special clearance to fly in heavy fog in the minutes before the crash and was flying at 1,400 feet.
Radar data revealed he then climbed to 2,300 feet before beginning a left descending turn. The wreckage of the Sikorsky S-76B was found at 1,085 feet, the NTSB said.
A shrine to Bryant has been set up outside the Staples Centre, complete with candles, flowers and photographs from fans.
The side’s game against local rivals the Los Angeles Clippers which was due to take place on Tuesday has been postponed, while tributes to the double Olympic gold medallist have continued.
An Instagram post from current Laker LeBron James wrote: “I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had.
“I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!
“Man I love you big bro. My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation and it’s my responsibility to put this shit on my back and keep it going!!
“Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!!”
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Rest in peace all nine of them , a dreadful tragedy!
Such dreadful news. Also, when the dust settles, I hope Mrs Bryant sues TMZ for breaking the story before next of kin were told. Imagine finding out your dad is dead from a push notification on your phone from a trashy tabloid magazine.
Life can be so short.. Hug your loved ones! RIP to all nine of them and my heart goes out to both families involved.
Tragedy – a huge loss on so many fronts
It’s a terrible tragedy. Even more a tragedy that the rest of the people that died will barely get a mention in the media because someone famous died along with them.
@Brian Kavanagh: in the California news, where they are known, they are heavily mentioned and talked about in the media. We don’t know them here so they’re not going into detail about them. Completely normal.
@Brian Kavanagh: tell us Brian, if Kobe wasn’t on board, and the helicopter crashed, Journal then never ran the story. Would you bring it up? Yes it’s a terrible tragedy for everyone that lost their lives. All families would prefer to not have to see anything in the tabloids and media about it. Some people just love a moan. Go back to work
@Martin McFly: that’s not moaning. It’s what I see happening from my perspective. My social media feeds are flooded with tributes to Kobe and his daughter but very little about the rest of the people killed. It’s something nobody every wants to see but that’s just the way the media is. Unfortunately it wouldn’t be newsworthy if it was just a normal Joe soap onboard.
@Brian Kavanagh: Ah Brian come off it will ya? Not trying to be funny, but if the media used its resources to report on every fatal accident to every person around the world, I think things might get a little out of hand. If you are interested to learn of the rest of the tragic losses from that helicopter crash, please do some research online of the local news in California / LA area.
Why nothing about the other family involved !!
@Paddy Jennings: why the drama with you people seriously? In the California news, where they are known, they are heavily mentioned and talked about in the media. We don’t know them here so they’re not going into detail about them. Completely normal.
@Paddy Jennings: if Kobe Bryant wasn’t in the helicopter this wouldn’t even be news here and you wouldn’t be talking about it.
Some people just love a good moan.
@Paddy Jennings: they are being acknowledge and remembered here, by their families, friends, cities and entities they are connected with. They are all over the newscast here, internationally they only know and covered Kobe.
Tragic, but I bet the Accident Report for this helicopter crash gets published before our R116 Report, the third anniversary of which will be in a couple of weeks.
About time this has been mentioned……. https://m.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/american-sports/ewan-mackenna-in-death-as-in-life-kobe-bryant-should-be-remembered-for-the-good-and-bad-but-also-the-ugly-38903192.html
@Paula Jones: And we’ll all be there when your day comes perfect Paula to ensure that you’re remembered for everything you did in sin, as well as the good things of course.
Was the coptor crash in the west coast? Two ? Years ago?
Was the copy or crash in the west coast? Two ? Years ago?
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