Britain's only serving female naval commando has been named as one of three people who died in a helicopter crash during a military training exercise in Devon on Wednesday. The victims have been identified by the Ministry of Defence as 31-year-old Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher from Surrey, 42-year-old Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson from Somerset, and 24-year-old Petty Officer Owen Green from Hampshire.
Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as 'dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our armed forces'. Their families have been informed, and an investigation is underway into the cause of the crash, which occurred when the MK4 helicopter went down in a field in Sourton Down, near Okehampton, around 4am on Wednesday. Conditions at the time were reported to be very poor, with strong winds, heavy rain, and low visibility. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash.
Colonel Will Penkman, commanding officer of the Commando Helicopter Force, said: 'It is a tragedy that we lost three members of the CHF family yesterday. Cherished members of the force with bright futures ahead of them, they were all highly committed professionals infused with the Junglie spirit of the force.'
Merlin helicopters, such as the Merlin Mk4 involved in the incident, are primarily used for anti-submarine warfare. They can also be used for search and rescue, cargo transfers, and maritime patrol, according to the Royal Navy's website.
Lieutenant Fisher, who was based in Yeovil, Somerset, joined the Royal Navy in May 2019. She successfully completed the 16-week All Arms Commando Course, a feat very few women have achieved to date. In 2021, she represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships. She also appeared as a contestant on the ITV shows 'Take Me Out' and 'Ninja Warrior UK'. Fisher described her service as a 'massive privilege and a huge honour to serve my country'. Her achievement as the only British female Royal Navy commando was praised by NATO.
Speaking last year, Fisher said: 'The body achieves what the mind believes. I love to test myself and challenge myself constantly.' She added: 'If the call was to ever come to go to war, it is my responsibility and my duty to serve in the armed forces, be it in peacetime or at wartime.' When asked whether she believed a woman could one day pass the Royal Marines course, Fisher told the BBC: 'Absolutely. Absolutely, I do think it is possible to pass it.'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the deaths as 'utterly tragic', adding: 'My thoughts are with the families, friends, and loved ones of the three members of the Royal Navy who sadly lost their lives. Thank you to the emergency services responding to this horrific incident.' The Princess of Wales, who serves as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, said she was saddened to hear of the deaths, adding: 'William and I hold their families and friends in our hearts at this very difficult time.'
A witness told ITV News he heard engines cut out before seeing an 'almighty flash of red' as the helicopter crashed. Eddie Amhof said: 'I heard this horrendous noise from a helicopter; it sounded like he was going to pitch on the roof. It was a terrible noise. By the time I got out of bed and got to the window, he had moved away about half a mile. And all of a sudden, no noise at all. The engines were gone.' He added: 'At the same time as the engines went, there was an almighty flash of red which lit up the sky. About five to six minutes after that, there was a big bang, an explosion.'
In 2024, a Merlin Mk4 crashed in the Channel during a training exercise, killing Lieutenant Rhodri Leyshon.
