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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Rally boss in helicopter escape | Rally boss in helicopter escape |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Subaru rally team chief Dave Richards and his wife survived unhurt when their helicopter crash-landed in Essex. | Subaru rally team chief Dave Richards and his wife survived unhurt when their helicopter crash-landed in Essex. |
| Police said Mr Richards, 55, and his wife, Karen, "walked out of the wreckage" near North Weald Airfield and were treated for shock by paramedics. | Police said Mr Richards, 55, and his wife, Karen, "walked out of the wreckage" near North Weald Airfield and were treated for shock by paramedics. |
| Mr Richards, awarded a CBE in 2005, is chief executive of Prodrive. | Mr Richards, awarded a CBE in 2005, is chief executive of Prodrive. |
| It runs the Subaru World Rally Team that Colin McRae, who died in a separate helicopter crash on Saturday, won his world rally title with in 1995. | |
| Mr Richards had earlier led the tributes to McRae, who was killed along with his five-year-old son, Johnny, and two other people following the accident in Lanarkshire. | Mr Richards had earlier led the tributes to McRae, who was killed along with his five-year-old son, Johnny, and two other people following the accident in Lanarkshire. |
| 'Transmission failure' | 'Transmission failure' |
| Mr Richards and his wife were returning to their home at Banbury, Oxfordshire, after attending the Belgian Grand Prix. | Mr Richards and his wife were returning to their home at Banbury, Oxfordshire, after attending the Belgian Grand Prix. |
| Mill Lane, which is alongside the field where the wreckage lies, has been sealed off awaiting the arrival of Air Accident Investigation Branch staff. | Mill Lane, which is alongside the field where the wreckage lies, has been sealed off awaiting the arrival of Air Accident Investigation Branch staff. |
| "Something failed on the transmission system," Richards told autosport.com. | "Something failed on the transmission system," Richards told autosport.com. |
| "Because of what happened with Colin yesterday, we didn't want to stay at Spa, we wanted to come back home early. | "Because of what happened with Colin yesterday, we didn't want to stay at Spa, we wanted to come back home early. |
| David and Colin were great friends and it's an amazing coincidence that this has happened Prodrive spokesman | David and Colin were great friends and it's an amazing coincidence that this has happened Prodrive spokesman |
| "We were nearing Stansted airport when we heard this bang at the back of the aircraft. | "We were nearing Stansted airport when we heard this bang at the back of the aircraft. |
| "I was talking to the control at Stansted at the time, so I immediately gave them a May Day call, and the rescue crew came within minutes. | "I was talking to the control at Stansted at the time, so I immediately gave them a May Day call, and the rescue crew came within minutes. |
| "Then, everything failed but I managed to bring it down to the ground, and it fell on its side." | "Then, everything failed but I managed to bring it down to the ground, and it fell on its side." |
| A Prodrive spokesman added: "David and Colin were great friends and it's an amazing coincidence that this has happened. | A Prodrive spokesman added: "David and Colin were great friends and it's an amazing coincidence that this has happened. |
| "Colin was a Subaru driver for many years and during that time he and David got to know each other very well. David is devastated about what has happened to Colin. | "Colin was a Subaru driver for many years and during that time he and David got to know each other very well. David is devastated about what has happened to Colin. |
| "We are just thankful he and Karen are OK." | "We are just thankful he and Karen are OK." |
| The spokesman said Mr Richards, who was piloting a Eurocopter EC 135, experienced mechanical problems over Essex while travelling at about 1,500ft. | The spokesman said Mr Richards, who was piloting a Eurocopter EC 135, experienced mechanical problems over Essex while travelling at about 1,500ft. |
| He said Mr Richards managed to bring the aircraft down in a field and both he and his wife escaped unhurt. | He said Mr Richards managed to bring the aircraft down in a field and both he and his wife escaped unhurt. |