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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