Hotel staff offered counselling after two die in helicopter crash

8:33am Monday 28th January 2008

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HOTEL staff have been offered counselling after a helicopter crashed in its grounds killing a millionaire husband and wife.

Staff from Rudding Park Hotel, in Follifoot, Harrogate, rushed to the couple's aid, but they were already dead.

They have been identified as Peter Spencer, 43, and his wife, Linda, 59, from Brighouse, in West Yorkshire. They owned a dried flowers business called Country Baskets.

Emergency services were alerted by hotel staff and passing motorists who saw the helicopter crash in woodland on Saturday.

Carl Boasman, from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We received an emergency call reporting a helicopter had crashed in the grounds of Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate.

"Fire appliances from Harrogate and Knaresborough were quickly mobilised.

"Fire crews used hydraulic cutting equipment to release the casualties but, despite the prompt action, the occupants of the helicopter were pronounced dead at the scene."

The couple had dined at the five-star hotel then took off in their black Gazelle helicopter, only to crash minutes later 800 yards away on the new Repton shortcourse, which is due to open in April.

Peter Banks, managing director of the hotel, said: "It is a dreadful tragedy and we are very, very sorry. Some of the staff, especially the ones who were here are very, very traumatised.

"They have been offered counselling by the police, who have been very helpful."

The bodies of Mr and Mrs Spencer were left in the wreckage overnight, covered by a tarpaulin and guarded by police before being removed on Sunday.

Family members visited the site to lay flowers and released the following tribute: "Paul and Linda Spencer were a wonderful couple who were devoted to each other and their family. They were hugely generous to all around them, often helping people who were less fortunate.

"From modest beginnings they built a successful business, which operated throughout the UK employing hundreds of people.

"Their family and friends have been left devastated by the tragedy, but can take comfort that, at the time of the accident, they were in one of their favourite places together and doing something they loved."

Rudding Park was recently named the 12th most luxurious hotel in the world in an awards list, based on travellers' choices, by website firm TripAdvisor.

Past guests have included former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush senior, former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, of South Africa.

North Yorkshire Police are investigating the accident with the RAF, the Royal Navy and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Anyone who saw the helicopter before the crash is asked to call 0845-60-60-247.

The A658 and Rudding Lane remain closed, but there is access to the hotel from Wetherby Road.