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London helicopter crash scene
Police peer through some cover sheets at the scene of the helicopter crash in Vauxhall, London. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA
Police peer through some cover sheets at the scene of the helicopter crash in Vauxhall, London. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

London helicopter crash: second victim was passerby arriving early for work

This article is more than 11 years old
Matthew Wood, 39, described by neighbours in Sutton as a 'lovely guy', as brother of deceased pilot offers condolences

Friends and relatives of the passerby who died when a helicopter hit a crane and crashed to the ground in London on Wednesday have paid tribute to a hard-working, family-oriented man.

Matthew Wood, 39, was walking to work at the pest control firm Rentokil in Vauxhall when the accident happened. He died at the scene.

He had not been due to arrive until later, but always started his managerial job early. The last the family heard from him was when he texted on Wednesday morning to ask about his nephew, who had been in hospital after a minor accident, his sister-in-law Amanda Wood said.

As the news of the helicopter crash broke, she said, the family tried to call him but could not get through. "Some people we spoke to at his work told us that the building was shut but everyone was accounted for and that they couldn't get hold of Matt," Ms Wood said. "We said to the police: 'Is it a big guy?' and they said yes."

Wood's death came almost a year to the day after his father, Brian, died from leukaemia.

Wood was the second person to be named as a victim of the incident, which is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. The first was the helicopter's pilot, Pete Barnes.

Barnes' brother Chris said the experienced captain's instincts, even in a crash situation, may have avoided further casualties.

"Our condolences go out to the family of the other man who was killed, that's the last thing that my brother would have wanted to happen," Chris Barnes said.

In Sutton, south London, Thanaporn Ploypaisansang, 38, a restaurant manager who lives in a flat on the same floor as Wood's, said he was a "really nice and friendly guy".

"I'm in shock and just can't believe it's him. He was very, very unlucky. He was only my neighbour, we didn't talk much, but I feel really sad inside."

Yvonne Humphries, 63, who lives in the house next door, said Wood lived on his own but was sociable. "I just can't believe it, I was listening to the news this morning and they said someone from Sutton died, I can't believe it's him," she said. "He was just a lovely, cuddly guy.

More details emerged of two workmen who should have been in the crane at the time of the accident but escaped because they overslept.

Richard Moule, 31, a father of two from Harlow, Essex, and Nicki Biagioni, 30, from Ongar, Essex, were late for work and hurrying to climb the crane, which is being used at St George Wharf, one of Europe's largest skyscrapers.

"It was the first time I've been late since starting this job three years ago. I just woke up late. Call it divine intervention if you like," Moule told the Daily Mail.

He was in the building's basement ready to go up when the accident happened. "The first thing I did was call my wife, Stephanie, and tell her: 'You'll be hearing about this but I'm OK.' She gave me a big hug when I got back home."

Biagioni was late because his four-year-old son, who usually wakes him up, slept in, his wife told the Sun.

Launching a £1bn development in the south London borough of Croydon on Thursday, the London mayor, Boris Johnson, said it was too early to draw any conclusions on whether there should be more restrictions on tall buildings.

More on this story

More on this story

  • London helicopter crash pilot diverted because of bad weather

  • London helicopter crash victims' cause of death revealed

  • The London helicopter crash site, where no meaning can be found

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