TWO OF the three people killed when their helicopter crashed in the Mourne Mountains in Co Down at the weekend have been named.
Charles Stisted (47) and Ian Wooldridge (48) died when their private helicopter came down near Leitrim Lodge in Carcullion, outside Hilltown.
Mr Stisted was chief executive of the exclusive Guards Polo Club in Windsor, Berkshire, and was a personal friend of Prince Charles and his sons, princes William and Harry.
Mr Wooldridge was also a member of the polo club and was linked with Harcourt Developments and the regeneration of the Titanic Quarter in Belfast’s docklands.
A statement from Clarence House, Prince Charles’s residence, said he, his sons and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were “deeply saddened” to hear of the tragedy.
“The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry are all shocked and deeply saddened by this terrible tragedy.
“Their Royal Highnesses’ thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed at this dreadful time.”
The two men had been on a shooting trip at the estate of the Duke of Abercorn near Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone.
Their helicopter had departed from St Angelo airport near Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh on the homeward journey.
Club Polo Club chairman Col Paul Belcher said yesterday: “Mr Stisted would be much missed by everyone at Guards Polo Club. We send our love and deepest sympathy to Melissa, Freddie and Allegra.”
He added: “Sadly, we understand that Ian Wooldridge, a popular player and generous supporter of the club, was also killed in the same incident.
“Our thoughts and sympathy are, of course, also with his wife Tandy and their children, Charlie and Rhett.”
Mr Wooldridge, along with his brother, owned the Wooldridge Group in Surrey, a successful construction services company.
There were no other passengers aboard the eight-seater Agusta helicopter, which was en route from Co Fermanagh to southern England when the incident happened.
The helicopter pilot has still to be named.