The wreckage of a helicopter that came down in thick fog in a field in Gillingham, near Beccles, Norfolk (Picture: Chris Radburn/PA)

One of Northern Ireland’s richest men, Lord Ballyedmond, has been killed alongside three others after a helicopter crashed in thick fog.

The emergency services were called at 7.30pm last night following reports the aircraft had come down behind St Mary’s Church in Gillingham, Norfolk, a mile north of the Suffolk town of Beccles.

Lord Ballyedmond was chairman of Norbrook, the largest privately owned pharmaceutical company in the world. He also owned Gillingham Hall, a stately home near the crash site.

Northern Irish Conservative peer Lord Ballyedmond was one of four men killed (Picture: John Harrison/Harrison Photography/PA)

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Reg Empey, who has known his family for 25 years, said his death was a ‘tragedy’.




‘Lord Ballyedmond was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland and indeed these islands. He brought high-quality employment opportunities to this country during its darkest days,’ he said.

‘This tragic accident has cut short the life of a man who had still much to give. The family circle will be numbed by the tragedy.’

Police at a cordon on the A146 (Picture: PA)

Earlier, Inspector Louis Provart said: ‘Emergency services are working together in difficult conditions to secure the scene and carry out an initial investigation into the circumstances.

‘Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those who have sadly lost their lives this evening.’

The village is 45 miles from the spot where four crew members died when a US military helicopter crashed on a training mission in a nature reserve in Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, in January.

Police officers at the scene (Picture: PA)

It was not clear whether fog played a factor in last night’s crash.

However, one local wrote on Twitter: ‘Can’t see my hand in front of my face. No sign of scene of crash. Wouldn’t see it anyway, too foggy.’

Helicopter crashed very close to my house in Gillingham tonight. I heard it flying over the house — Juan (@MUFC20GGMU) March 13, 2014

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been informed and a team will be sent to investigate the crash, a spokesman said.