Posted: 3:37 PM, July 16, 2022
Updated: 4:08 p.m., July 16, 2022
The lives of 11 men who died after a helicopter crashed in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth 20 years ago have been remembered at a church service.
On July 16, 2002, a Sikorsky helicopter carrying offshore workers crashed 25 miles from the city.
Reverend Peter Payne pays tribute to the 11 men who lost their lives – Picture: Anthony Carroll
Twenty years to the day, a memorial service was held at Great Yarmouth Church.
At the service, 11 candles were lit for each of the men who died.
Candles were lit next to a glass porch, a memorial to the 11 men.
The men who died were Stuart Cogan, Philip Stone, Kevin Taylor, Dennis Kelleher, Angus MacArthur, Geoffrey Bispham, David Graves, Douglas Learwood, Paul Francis, Philip Wade and Philip Dearden.
The Saturday afternoon service was led by Rev Simon Ward.
The Rt Canon Simon Ward paid tribute to the 11 men who lost their lives – Picture: Anthony Carroll
He said lighting candles helps grieving people express their loss.
Reverend Ward said: “It helps to articulate the words that we sometimes find difficult to form.
Great Yarmouth Minster held a memorial service – Photo: Anthony Carroll
“I imagine candles were lit in this church and many other places 20 years ago when the news of this tragedy broke.
“The death has had a huge impact on the town and the wider community in East Anglia.
“The ripples were felt beyond this region.”
The Reverend Peter Payne was the port chaplain at the time of the crash and provided comfort to families and colleagues.
A candle is lit for one of the 11 men who died in the crash – Photo: Anthony Carroll
He took part in the Saturday service and invited the borough mayor Graham Plant to light the first candle in memory of the victims.
The 11 main candles were then lit, including by family members
The Bristow Sikorsky S76 helicopter had two crew members and nine passengers on board.
The lives of the 11 men were remembered as candles were lit in their memory – Photo: Anthony Carroll
It had a contract with Shell UK Exploration and Productions and had left the Sole Pit gas production platform targeting the Leman gas field.
Experts said the main rotor blade broke, causing the ship to plunge into the sea and leaving no hope of survival for those on board.
Schell, for whom three of the men worked, had erected a glass porch in the church in memory of the 11 who died.
The Reverend Peter Paine looks on as a candle is lit – Photo: Anthony Carroll
The porch roof is shaped like a helicopter rotor blade and has the name of each victim written on it in gold.
The service at Great Yarmouth Minster saw candles lit in memory of the victims of the crash. – Photo: Anthony Carroll
How the news of the crash was reported – Credit: Archant
The tragedy shook the region. – Credit: Archant
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