Daimler chauffeur was Shoreham air crash victim

  • Published
Maurice AbrahamsImage source, PA
Image caption,

Maurice Abrahams, a former soldier and police officer, enjoyed chauffeuring his "beloved Daimler car"

The driver of a Daimler limousine is the fourth victim of the Shoreham air crash to be identified.

The family of Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton, said he enjoyed his work chauffeuring his "beloved Daimler car".

Pictures of a Daimler were shown soon after a vintage jet crashed into traffic on the A27 at the Shoreham Airshow. The limousine was on its way to pick up a bride for her wedding.

Eleven people are thought to have died, but searches are continuing.

Earlier, a crane was used to remove the wreckage of the aircraft.

It had been feared more victims would be discovered, but police said no more bodies were found on Monday.

Steve Barry, Sussex Assistant Chief Constable, said searches could still discover more bodies but would not speculate on a number.

He said more than 200 people had reported concerns for missing relatives or friends.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The damaged remains of the fuselage of a Hawker Hunter fighter jet have been removed from the scene

Image source, Eddie Mitchell
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The remains of the Hawker Hunter jet are being taken away for examination by air crash investigators

Image source, PA
Image caption,

The crane began removing the fuselage wreckage from the site about midday

The Hawker Hunter jet crashed on Saturday. All of those who died are thought to have been on the road, which remains closed.

'Never the same'

Emergency teams are now focusing on recovering the victims who were found, Mr Barry said.

The site has also been extended beyond the initial 400yd (365m) zone that was first identified.

Mr Barry said the aircraft would be taken to Farnborough for examination, and vehicles and other debris still had to be removed from the scene.

"I appreciate that things will never be the same again in Shoreham," he said.

But he said emergency teams were determined to provide answers to those who had lost loved ones.

Highways England said the A27 was expected to remain closed in both directions until Saturday.

A spokesman said highways officers were supporting the investigation and would then repair the damaged road surface.

Image source, EPA
Image caption,

The 1950s Hawker Hunter jet crashed into several cars on a nearby road causing a large fireball

West Sussex coroner Penny Schofield said identifying the victims of the crash would be a slow and painstaking operation.

"The fire was so intense and the scale of the damage so vast, it means that we must very carefully remove the remains in a way that will lead to a formal identification," she said.

She said inquests would be opened and the deceased released to their families once formal identification process was complete.

Books of condolence have been opened by three local authorities and the flag is flying at half-mast at County Hall in Chichester.

The victims

Image source, PA
Image caption,

From left to right: Matt Jones, Jacob Schilt, Matthew Grimstone and Maurice Abrahams

  • Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer, was named by his sister Becky Jones on Facebook as one of the dead

  • Jacob Schilt, 23, was part of Worthing United's Sussex County League Division Two championship-winning side last season

  • Matthew Grimstone, 23, played for Worthing United and was thought to have been travelling with Mr Schilt

  • Maurice Abrahams, 76, a former Hampshire police officer, served in the Grenadier Guards and the Parachute Regiment, and also with the UN.

The pilot of the crashed jet, Andrew Hill, 51, of Sandon, near Buntingford in Hertfordshire, is in a medically-induced coma in hospital where his condition is critical.

In a statement, his family said they were "devastated and deeply saddened" by the loss of life and sent "prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected".

Image source, PA
Image caption,

Pilot Andy Hill remains in a critical condition with multiple injuries

The Shoreham Airshow organiser, the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), said it was assisting the Air Accident Investigations Branch investigation and defended the event's safety record.

In a statement, RAFA said: "The team at Shoreham have many years of experience in running air shows throughout the UK.

"All aircraft have to be certificated and all pilots authorised by the CAA before they are allowed to undertake display routines at any air show."

Air shows

Other air shows across the country are due to go ahead, many including a minute's silence in memory of those killed in the Shoreham crash.

  • But Carfest South, due to take place at Laverstoke Park Farm, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, from Thursday, will no longer have a flying element

Those going ahead include:

  • Battle of Britain 75th anniversary show in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, near the M11, on 19 and 20 September, at which the Shoreham crash pilot was due to fly the Hawker Hunter,

  • Clacton air show, on 27 and 28 August, which takes place mainly over the sea

  • Wings and Wheels, in Dunsfold, Surrey, on 29 and 30 August

  • Durham Tees Valley air show on 29 August

  • Little Gransden air and car show in Cambridgeshire on 30 August

  • Southport air show, on 19 and 20 September

The aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced "significant restrictions" on vintage jets in air displays following the crash.

It said the ban on the Hawker Hunter remained in place and other aircraft would be limited to flypasts. Aerobatics will not be permitted.

At the scene: Simon Jenkins, BBC Sussex

Image caption,

A Brighton and Hove Albion scarf is wound round the tribute to Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt

Floral tributes are growing on the footbridge over the River Adur.

There are hundreds of bouquets pinned to the side of the bridge.

One very poignant one is directed at the two footballers for Worthing United, Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, one of whom worked as a groundsman for Brighton and Hove Albion.

A Brighton and Hove Albion scarf is twirled round the flowers.

People are spontaneously going down to the bridge that is the focal point where all the shock and disbelief locally has been focused.

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