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(Image: CHRIS CLINE FOUNDATION/GETTY)

Chris Cline, 60, was travelling from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale, Florida when his helicopter reportedly crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

He famously dated Swedish model Elin Nordegren, ex-wife of Tiger Woods.

The cause of the crash close to Grand Cay off the Abaco Islands is still unknown.

Friends of the West Virginia-born coal tycoon said his daughter, Kamie Conover, was among those who died.

Two of the six other passengers have been named in the US as David Jude and Delaney Wykle, while two unidentified friends and a helicopter mechanic from Florida were also said to be on board.

(Image: CHRIS CLINE FOUNDATION) (Image: REUTERS) (Image: GETTY)

Tourism and Aviation Minister for the Bahamas Dionisio D'Aguilar told reporters the crash happened at around 2am on Thursday, but details weren't released until later in the evening.

The helicopter was reported missing at 2pm on Thursday and the crash site was found sometime after 6pm by police and residents some two miles offshore from Grand Cay.

"It's all very scant," he said, when asked about the delay in reporting the tragedy.

West Virginia's governor Jim Justice paid tribute to the billionaire and philanthropist when the news broke.

"Chris built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give," he said.

"What a wonderful, loving and giving man."

Cline, who grew up in a coal mining family, would have celebrated his 61st birthday today.

After dropping out of university at 22 he entered the coal industry.

He had an estimated net worth of $1.8bn (£1.4bn).

Known for his extravagant lifestyle, Cline owned a 205ft luxury yacht called Mine Games, complete with five bedrooms and its own submarine.

His mansion in Beckley, West Virginia, featured a lake, a go-kart track, as well as land for horses, goats and llamas.

He started dating supermodel Elin, 39, in 2013 after she separated from the golfing legend following a cheating scandal in 2010.

They are thought to have met in Palm Beach, Florida, where Cline owned an enormous estate, and where Elin built her new $12m (£9.5m) mansion following her split from Tiger.

(Image: GETTY)

The pair dated for a year but split in August 2014 after friends said they had "drifted apart".

A pal told Page Six: "They didn't spend enough time together. He has a thriving business and has been travelling a lot."

In 2016, they reconciled briefly before breaking up again.

Cline was married twice in his lifetime and had two sons and two daughters.

His first wife, Sabrina, died of breast cancer in 1987.

He remarried in 1993 before divorcing seven years later.

West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Evan Jenkins also paid tribute to Cline in a statement.

"The most genuine person came out of the 'School of Hard Knocks' to achieve everything positive," he said.

"This is a real loss of a loving father for his family, heartbreaking for them and all of the state."

Elin was recently photographed with her new partner, ex-NFL star Jordan Cameron.

The two are expecting their first child soon.