24-year-old among nine people killed in skydive plane (From Daily Echo)

24-year-old among nine people killed in skydive plane

1:02pm Sunday 5th September 2010 in

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A British tourist killed after a skydiving plane crashed in a ball of flames in New Zealand has been named as Hampshire man Brad Coker.

The 24-year-old was among nine people who died when the light aircraft crashed at the end of the runway at Fox Glacier Airport on South Island, New Zealand Police said.

The other dead included 26-year-old Patrick Byrne, an Irishman from County Wexford, the pilot and four skydiving instructors, all from New Zealand. There were also tourists from Germany and Australia.

The aircraft was almost destroyed in the accident which took place at 1.15pm local time on Friday.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ''We have been offering consular assistance to his family to help them get through this extremely difficult time.''

It is believed the plane was taking Mr Coker, from Farnborough, and the other tourists, up to take part in a tandem skydive.

Police said the aircraft was a Fletcher fixed-wing plane, which is popular for skydiving and scenic flights over the well-known adventure sports area.

Fox Glacier is a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps, about 90 miles from Christchurch.

The fatal crash was the third in the region in the past 17 years.