Leading Northern Ireland rally driver Bertie Fisher and his wife were critically ill in hospital tonight after a helicopter crash in which their son and daughter were killed. Mr Fisher's private helicopter went down a short distance from his home a few miles outside Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Air accident investigators were at the scene carrying out an investigation to try and discover what went wrong. The helicopter crashed in a small copse of trees beside a country lane, causing extensive damage to the cockpit.
RUC Superintendent Eddie Graham said that Mr Fisher was an accomplished pilot and at this stage it was not known why the aircraft went down. He said that it was a tragedy that two of his children were killed. Mr Fisher and his wife, Gladys, together with another son, were taken to the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen for treatment. An army helicopter based in the town was scrambled to collect a medical team from the hospital and take them to the scene of the crash at Monea, five miles from Enniskillen on the road to Derrygonnelly.
It then made two trips to ferry the injured to hospital where Mr and Mrs Fisher were later reported to be in critical conditions and their son's fiancee stable. A local GP pronounced Mr Fisher's son, Mark, 27, and daughter, Emma, 25, dead at the scene. Northern Ireland Environment Minister and Fermanagh man, Sam Foster, who knows the Fisher family, expressed his sadness.
The community is in deep shock, he said, adding: “This was a well known family in the Fermanagh area and further afield. They are a highly respected, decent, responsible family. This is a devastating blow.” Police investigators said that they want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard a helicopter in the Monea or Derrygonnelly area during the afternoon to contact them.
