HOPE of finding a North-East man alive following a helicopter crash which claimed at least six lives faded after the search for him was called off tonight.
The craft, carrying five passengers and two crew, three from the region, ditched in the sea 20 miles off Morecambe Bay at around 6pm.
Keith Smith, from Stockton, was still officially missing last night, while the dead included Leslie Ahmed, 48, from South Shields and Alfred Neasham, 57, from Coxhoe.
Pilots Stephen Potton, from Blackpool, and Simon Foddering, from Preston, and fellow passengers Robert Warburton, 60, a married man from Heysham, Lancashire and John Shaw, 51, also married and from Kirkcaldy, Fife were also killed.
The helicopter was ferrying workers between gas rigs in the bay and pitched into the water as employees on one platform looked on in horror.
Leave your tributes to Mr Neasham, Mr Ahmed and Mr Smith on the Northern Echo's website from tomorrow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article