Hunting supporter decapitated by gyrocopter

pullandbang

Just saw this article on shootinguk.co.uk

Trevor Morse, 48, is thought to have been decapitated by the blades of the gyrocopter as it prepared to make a refuelling stop at Long Marston airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, at around 3pm.

Two have been arrested on suspicion of murder and were being questioned by officers in Leamington Spa last night.

Police are investigating whether the pilot of the light aircraft, thought to have been carrying anti-hunt monitors, intentionally flew into the victim.

It is understood that an animal rights group, Protect Our Wild Animals, has been monitoring the Warwickshire and the Heythrop hunts from a gyrocopter over the past three weeks. Masters of the hunt told The Times newspaper that one of the low-flying aircraft had been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority and the police about ten days ago, amid fears that it was upsetting animals. It was said to have been swooping in an aggressive manner over the hunt.

Between 80 and 100 hunt followers were out yesterday at the hunt in Moreton-in-Marsh on the last day of the Warwickshire hunting season. The hunt met at the village of Todenham at 11.45am and the light aircraft, first spotted at noon, followed it for about two hours.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “On arrival at the scene crews found a pedestrian that had been in collision with an aircraft. Crews immediately assessed the pedestrian, a man, but unfortunately nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

Sparks

Saw that a day or two ago on their Twitter feed. I find it beyond belief (literally) that any pilot would do something like that deliberately, not just for moral reasons, but because the impact would damage the craft and that close to the ground, that would usually ruin your whole day.

It's also completely unclear as to what actually happened - other news sources say the accident happened when the pilot was landing to refuel, quite a distance away from the hunt.

Story Man

BBC News Feed


Man on gyrocopter murder charge


Mr Morse had spent many years with the Warwickshire Hunt


A man has been charged with the murder of a hunt supporter who was killed when he was hit by a gyrocopter at an airfield in Warwickshire.
Trevor Morse, 48, from Alderminster, Warwickshire, died at the scene of the incident at Long Marston airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon on Monday.
A man is due before magistrates in Nuneaton on Thursday, police said.
A second man arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on police bail while inquiries continue.
The two men were arrested at the airfield at the time of the incident, at about 1500 GMT.
In a statement police said: "Two men were arrested at the scene and have been in custody at Leamington Spa police station.
"One man has tonight been charged with murder. "The second man has been released on police bail pending further inquiries." A post mortem-examination carried out at the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire revealed Mr Morse died from severe head injuries.

Double Barrel

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5880691.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article5877904.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4968610/Hunt-supporter-killed-by-gyrocopter-after-confronting-animal-rights-activists.html

Sparks

What a mess. I don't understand how he got onto the runway in the first place, airfields in the UK tend to be a lot more security-concious in general than over here (here, the airfield buildings get locked and customs is taken care of and that's more or less it for all but the biggest airports). And if those reports are right, and he did walk out onto the runway while the gyrocopter was taxiing, it was the equivalent of walking in front of a live firing line on the range, he probably just didn't know that. Horrendous

pullandbang

There must be more to it if the authorities are already arresting two people on suspicion of murder. Tragic for the victim and his family.

Sparks

They'd be arrested until the police established what happened as a matter of course I'd imagine P&B, I wouldn't read it as being proof of anything yet.

Trojan911

Sky News report murder charges have been laid against one man. Saw it last night.

Grizzly 45

[

quote=Sparks;59382046]What a mess. I don't understand how he got onto the runway in the first place, airfields in the UK tend to be a lot more security-concious in general than over here (here, the airfield buildings get locked and customs is taken care of and that's more or less it for all but the biggest airports).

Could have been one of any number of small semi private fields that are around the UK too. While there is supposed to be somone monitoring the flight line,this usually doesnt happen at private fields as there is usually only one or two aircraft moving at any given time,and usually not at the same time.[Put in shooting terms,it would be like you employing a RO on your back lot while you shoot by yourself]

And if those reports are right, and he did walk out onto the runway while the gyrocopter was taxiing, it was the equivalent of walking in front of a live firing line on the range, he probably just didn't know that. Horrendous

Indeed ,very horrible.But how anyone can walk up to what amounts to a giant whirling blade and not realise that they will be killed is beyond me.

Intresting here is though.A gyrocopter doesnt have power going to its rotor blades to provide lift.[Otherwise it would be a helicopter:)]The blades only rotate when it has forward motion.So was the Gyrocopter trying to take off again?As if it was landed and moving forward the blades would be slowing down?? Still and all a double tragedy,with a death and a murder rap for somone.

Sparks

Yup, saw that this morning Trojan. That does put a different spin on things.

Sparks

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Could have been one of any number of small semi private fields that are around the UK too. While there is supposed to be somone monitoring the flight line,this usually doesnt happen at private fields as there is usually only one or two aircraft moving at any given time,and usually not at the same time.[Put in shooting terms,it would be like you employing a RO on your back lot while you shoot by yourself]

Yeah, but I've seen some of those 'small, private' fields Grizzy, and their definition of 'small' is a long way from ours. Their idea of small would be something a tad larger than Weston. There are fields that we'd think of as being small ppr fields, but not many have the paved runways you can see in the photos released so far.

Indeed ,very horrible.But how anyone can walk up to what amounts to a giant whirling blade and not realise that they will be killed is beyond me.

And me, but it happens so often you wouldn't credit it. I grew up going out to farranfore every weekend, I was walking around the apron there from pretty much when I first learnt to walk, and I've still managed to walk into a cessna's flaps - and those are these big brighly-coloured metal things that don't move and are at eye level. If this poor sod hadn't been on an apron before and just walked in there, he was in a lot of danger he probably didn't even know about.

Intresting here is though.A gyrocopter doesnt have power going to its rotor blades to provide lift.[Otherwise it would be a helicopter:)]The blades only rotate when it has forward motion.So was the Gyrocopter trying to take off again?As if it was landed and moving forward the blades would be slowing down?

I seriously doubt it would matter - it's close enough to thinking that bullets can't hurt you because they're so small The blades have a lot of momentum in them and all that energy would get dumped into whatever they hit - it's something that's happened before with helicopters, the engine's spooling down and the blades aren't powered and are slowing down and someone thinks that that means it's okay not to duck because without the engine you could stop the blade with your hand if you had to.... and then you get a very nasty tragic accident. Haven't heard of it happening with gyrocopters, they're not as common as helicopters, but the physics are the same.

People have this inherent flaw - they'll walk in front of live firing ranges, they'll run across archery fields when folks are shooting arrows, they'll run across busy roads and they'll sightsee round airfield aprons without sufficient care We just suck at estimating risk. It's been known in psychological studies for decades and it's a main factor in drafting safety procedures.


edit: And of course, noone knows what exactly hit him - they all saw the big blades on top of the gyrocopter and said ah-ha! But a gyrocopter's got two sets of blades, the ones on top and the ones in back. He could have been hit by either. Or neither for that matter.

Rovi

There has to be more to this than we've heard so far; Long Marston airfield was an RAF bomber base during WWII, and is a long way from a grass field with a tatty windsock.

Here's a map/photo:
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?zoom=15&countryCode=GB&lat=52.1403333333&lon=-1.75366666667&mapType=aerial

Without in any way belittling the tragedy for all concerned, I'm somewhat sceptical that the hunt were actively hunting within the confines of the airfield, which leads me to wonder what events led to the presence of the unfortunate victim there.

Grizzly 45

, and I've still managed to walk into a cessna's flaps - and those are these big brighly-coloured metal things that don't move and are at eye level

Hurts dont it??:D:DDont worry done that one a few times myself.Especially if you are 6'4" they are perfect at nose bridge height.:(.Happens,same as if you have a boat or work with them sooner or later you will go for an involntary swim.:)

. If this poor sod hadn't been on an apron before and just walked in there, he was in a lot of danger he probably didn't even know about.

Seeing Rovis post now proves it wasnt a one man dirt strip,and seemingly pretty busy,and used by the locals and G public [Check the General NOTAMS 2nd link]there should have been somone on the flight line.
Of course the flite line man he could have been on the bog,yakking up the girlies,etc ,even if he was there on the day.It doesnt seem to be a full blown,24/7/365 setup either.

People have this inherent flaw - they'll walk in front of live firing ranges, they'll run across archery fields when folks are shooting arrows, they'll run across busy roads and they'll sightsee round airfield aprons without sufficient care We just suck at estimating risk. It's been known in psychological studies for decades and it's a main factor in drafting safety procedures.

Or the average human is just becoming dumber than a bucket of rocks with every generation born.:( I mean,no matter wether it is powering up or slowing down there are still giant BLADES whirling around.Well, you would have to be pretty stoopid or crazy to walk into a fully rotating noisey pusher prop at the back of the copter,after missing the overhead rotor.But as you pointed out..:rolleyes:

edit: And of course, noone knows what exactly hit him - they all saw the big blades on top of the gyrocopter and said ah-ha! But a gyrocopter's got two sets of blades, the ones on top and the ones in back. He could have been hit by either. Or neither for that matter.

[/QUOTE]

Well both occupants are up on a murder and accessory to rap .But HOW they did it with a Gyro copter still baffles me ..After all it aerodynamics doesnt allow itself to chase people "mission impossible" style where the bad guy is trying to chop up the hero with the rotor blades:eek: [Pretty stupid thing to do anyway as any Chopper pilot would tell you].
Only way I could see this happening is,they gunned this for a takeoff or to scare away the victim and he got whacked.As ther seems to be some discussion as to wether they "borrowed" this copter as well.

Sparks

The whole thing is a big ball of confusion right now Grizzly, I think I'll wait for the outcome.

And yes, Cessna flaps hurt. A lot.

Sparks

The whole thing is a big ball of confusion right now Grizzly, I think I'll wait for the outcome.

And yes, Cessna flaps hurt. A lot.

thelurcher

Rovi wrote: »

Without in any way belittling the tragedy for all concerned, I'm somewhat sceptical that the hunt were actively hunting within the confines of the airfield, which leads me to wonder what events led to the presence of the unfortunate victim there.

Don't underestimate the ability of the brits to organize a days hunting - they have it down to a fine art and don't leave much to chance.
I've been out with one hunt in the uk that has a meet centered on an airfield - after each hunt it was back to the airfield to draw for another fox.
I seriously doubt that with sabs on the ground and in the air that any of the hunt members would trespass - it just doesn't make sense.
A more likely scenario is that the sab was chancing his arm by meeting his scumbag 'mates' at the airfield to refuel - that would also go some way to explain why he was arrested.

If I broke into the airport this evening and ran out on the runway into the path of the 17.35 from heathrow would the pilot be arrested and charged with murder?
The aul common sense isn't working too well lads is it :rolleyes:

Sparks

thelurcher wrote: »

A more likely scenario is that the sab was chancing his arm by meeting his scumbag 'mates' at the airfield to refuel - that would also go some way to explain why he was arrested.

Did I misread the articles? I thought the poor sod who got killed was a hunt supporter.

thelurcher

He was sparks.

A more likely scenario is that the sab was chancing his arm by meeting his scumbag 'mates' at the airfield to refuel - that would also go some way to explain why he was arrested.

I heard that there was another one sab at least to meet him on the ground.
'sab was chancing his arm' - pilot
scumbag 'mates' - other sabs waiting for him

'more likely scenario' - the sabs had no permission as opposed to the hunt supporter having no permission.

BryanL

I think the days hunting was over and the hunt supporter was at the airfield refueling his jeep. News reports said he and many more people re-fueled at the airport because diesel was reasonably cheap there.

rrpc

It sems the whole thing was videod:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5898186.ece

The moment a hunt supporter was hit and killed by the propeller of a gyrocopter was caught on camera by a witness, a court was told yesterday.

Trevor Morse, 48, died of head injuries after he was struck by the gyrocopter’s propeller at Long Marston airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, on Monday. Bryan Griffiths, 54, of Bedworth, north Warwickshire, appeared in court charged with his murder.

Magistrates in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, were told that a witness filmed the incident, and the moments before it, with a video camera. Philippa Cowley, prosecuting, said that Mr Morse was struck by a rear-mounted propeller and died “virtually immediately”.

During a 15-minute hearing, the court was told that Mr Griffiths, a heating technician, was a member of an anti-hunt animal rights campaign and worked as a volunteer hunt monitor, liaising closely with police. He was remanded in custody to appear at Warwick Crown Court on March 23.

BryanL

died “virtually immediately”


That, virtually, does not make easy reading.
Bryan

rrpc

BryanL wrote: »

died “virtually immediately”


That, virtually, does not make easy reading.
Bryan

I think we can be sure that he was unconscious immediately and probably dead almost instananeously.

It's still a terrible way to go and if it was done deliberately....

Sparks

If he was hit by the rear propellor, and only had head injuries, it sounds like he tripped, stumbled, fell or was pushed. The latter sounds sadly most likely, but you'd have to ask - if you drive 13 miles to confront someone, they shove you, you fall over and kill yourself; is it fair to say that they are solely liable for your death? That videotape may prove to be the only way anyone ever figures out what happened for certain.

firefly08

Is it even possible be hit by the top blades?Look at how high the rotor head is. Even at the tip of the forward blade, which is bent down towards the ground, it's still much higher than either of those two guys.

Sparks

Is it even possible be hit by the top blades?

Yes It's a major risk when helicopters operate out of public areas, and their rotors are just as high off the ground. Someone always forgets what's overhead as they get on/off the helicopter and waves to the kids...

Vegeta

firefly08 wrote: »

Is it even possible be hit by the top blades?Look at how high the rotor head is. Even at the tip of the forward blade, which is bent down towards the ground, it's still much higher than either of those two guys.

What about the engine prop?

Trojan911

Sparks wrote: »

is it fair to say that they are solely liable for your death? That videotape may prove to be the only way anyone ever figures out what happened for certain.

If it was a case of being pushed into the blades then it would have to be determined if it was deliberate or not. If not then a manslaughter charge would probably fit the bill. However it is a murder charge so one could draw an inference that it was deliberate.

Only the video tape & witnesses could hold the answers there and the fact that murder charges have been laid would suggest the CPS have a strong case to proceed. Either way, a horrible incident to happen.