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Former Bahrain expat among those killed in UK airshow crash

76-year-old Maurice Abrahams was a retired soldier who served in the Gulf state

The damaged remains of the fuselage of a Hawker Hunter fighter jet are lifted by crane on August 24, 2015 in Shoreham, England. The aircraft came down while performing at the Shoreham Airshow on August 22nd. Police now expect the death toll to rise to as many as 20 victims. (Getty Images)
The damaged remains of the fuselage of a Hawker Hunter fighter jet are lifted by crane on August 24, 2015 in Shoreham, England. The aircraft came down while performing at the Shoreham Airshow on August 22nd. Police now expect the death toll to rise to as many as 20 victims. (Getty Images)

One of the
victims killed when a vintage fighter jet ploughed into a busy road in southern
England while performing an acrobatics display was a former soldier who served
in Bahrain, his family has confirmed.

The Hawker
Hunter plane, of a type developed by Britain in the 1950s, struck several cars
on Saturday on the major road next to Shoreham airport near Brighton, where the
show was taking place.

Police said on
Sunday they feared 11 people had died, but reports claimed the death toll could
rise as high to closer to 20.

One of those
killed was 76-year-old Maurice Abrahams, a retired soldier who was working as a
chauffeur and was driving a Daimler car to pick up a bride to bring to her
church service.

In a statement
issued to the media, Abrahams’ family said: “Maurice was a well-respected and
loved father and husband. He enjoyed his work chauffeuring his beloved Daimler
car and he enjoyed gardening. He was proud to have served in the Grenadier
Guards and the Parachute Regiment. He served in Cyprus and Bahrain with the UN.
In his 30s he served as a police officer with Hampshire police.”

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