Kacper Kacprzak has been named as the seven-year-old boy who died in a light aircraft crash in Co. Offaly on Sunday.
The victims of Sunday’s light aircraft crash at Ireland’s Parachute Club in Co. Offaly have been named as seven-year-old Kacper Kacprzak and 47-year-old pilot Niall Bowditch.
The young boy, the son of a Polish national living in Dublin, and Bowditch, an experienced pilot from the UK, were the only two remaining in the small plane when it crashed into bogland close to Edenderry.
It was previously believed that Kacprzak’s father had been among the 16 parachuters who had just jumped from the plane before the crash but it has been confirmed that he was on the ground at the time. The Cessna Caravan plane had made five trips with parachuters that day.
An online fundraiser has now been set up to raised money for the families of the victims.
"We are heartbroken by the loss of two cherished members of our family at the Irish Parachute Club, little Kacper, son of our dear friend and fellow skydiver Kris, and Billy, a true gentleman and a thoughtful and great pilot,” said fund organizer Allaiouti Hassan.
Read more: Bodies of pilot and boy (7) recovered as plane crashes ‘like a torpedo’ in Offaly
Kacper and Kris Kacprzak.
"This is a difficult time for us all. I know that our skydiving family and the wider community want to come together and do what we can to support the families affected by this tragic accident.
“I myself have a son the same age as Kacper who loves planes. Having met Kacper at the club I know he was such a beautiful boy who would touch anyone's heart.”
The fund has raised over $20,000 in less than a day.
The family members of pilot Niall Bowditch are also believed to be arriving in Ireland on Tuesday.
Postmortems were carried out on the two bodies in Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore on Monday after they were recovered late Sunday night. It took emergency services several hours to locate the bodies on Sunday and more time to examine the wreck on Monday as they battled in up to two meters of bogland.
First images of horror Offaly plane crash scene where pilot and boy lost their lives as local councillor says it's 'very black day' for county https://t.co/JFFs2nnxWu
— Michael Doyle (@MDoyler) May 14, 2018
The Air Accident Investigation Unit will now carry out an investigation of the aircraft at their base in Gormanston, Co Meath to uncover the cause of the crash.
“The board of directors, members and friends of the Irish Parachute Club are deeply saddened at the death of the occupants of the aircraft that was operating on behalf of the club. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected,” the Irish Parachute Club said in a statement.
Air accident investigation underway into #offaly plane crash which claimed the lives of a 7 year old boy & the pilot pic.twitter.com/yWyKqySYFc
— Paul Quinn (@pdquinn7) May 14, 2018
“We would like to thank the Air Accident Investigation Unit and the emergency services who are continuing their investigation at this very difficult time.”
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