Rally driver Bertie Fisher dies in hospital after helicopter crash

Northern Ireland rally car driver Bertie Fisher has died from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash in Co Fermanagh.

Northern Ireland rally car driver Bertie Fisher has died from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash in Co Fermanagh.

The former champion driver's son, Mark and daughter Emma were also killed in the crash.

Mr Fisher's critically ill widow Gladys is expected to have a crucial operation later today.

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He was one of the most respected people in the province
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Northern Ireland sports minister Michael McGimpsey

Gladys Fisher is in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, where a second son Roy, 22, is also recovering.

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Mr Fisher, 50, a millionaire businessman from Co Fermanagh, died late last night when staff at the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen, switched off a life support machine.

His son and daughter died instantly when the helicopter crashed just miles from the family home on Sunday afternoon.

Their funerals are to take place in their home village of Ballinamallard on Thursday.

The Reverend Paul Hoey, who will conduct the service in Magheracross Parish Church, said: "The community is shattered."

The five were returning from Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo, where they had celebrated Mrs Fisher's 50th birthday.

Mr Fisher's father Tommy, 78, is also in the Royal Victoria recovering from a quadruple by-pass operation.

Northern Ireland sports minister Michael McGimpsey said today the death of Mr Fisher, a three-times winner of the Circuit of Ireland car rally, was a sad loss.

"He was one of the most respected people in the province," he said.

"His death has deprived Ballinamallard of a cornerstone of its community and leaves a void which will never be filled."

With two brothers and son Mark, also a rally driver who had just signed a deal to drive with the UK Peugeot team in Britain this season, Mr Fisher ran a major engineering company which employed over 180 people.