Los Angeles County Sheriff, Alex Villanueva has confirmed the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.
According to an earlier report, Kobe Bryant, who was only 41, was travelling in a private helicopter alongside his daughter and others who are yet to be named, when it crashed and burst into flames, Calabasas, about 30 miles (48 kilometres) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead, after earlier putting the death toll at five.
“God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference.
In a statement, the City of Calabasas said it was “with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash”.
“The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt,” it added.
Eyewitnesses told news site TMZ they heard the helicopter’s engine sputtering before it went down.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills.
The US Federal Aviation Administration identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76. It said it was investigating the accident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.
Officials are set to give further details at a press conference at 22:00 GMT.
KB is survived by his wife Vanessa. Together, they have four daughters — Gianna, Natalia and Bianca and their newborn Capri. Kobe and Vanessa got married in 2001 after meeting in 1999.
A memorial to Kobe has already sprung up outside of Staples Center, where #Kobe played for years.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Kobe Bryant:
“The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. “For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna. “We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”