Team GB Olympian Germaine Mason dies in motorbike crash

Jamaican-born British athlete Germaine Mason has died following a motorbike crash, police have confirmed.

The former high jumper, 34, was a close friend of Usain Bolt and is believed to be the only person involved in the collision in Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday morning.

It is being reported Mason was driving in a convoy of vehicles, with Bolt and fellow athlete Michael Frater among the first to arrive at the scene.

Niels de Vos, CEO of UK Athletics, said: “Our staff and colleagues who worked with Germaine are naturally saddened to hear this awful news. Our deepest sympathies go to Germaine’s friends, family and the athletics community at this difficult time.”

Senior high jump coach at British Athletics, Fuzz Caan, who worked closely with Germaine at the time of his Olympic success, added: “Germaine was an outstanding athlete and a truly lovely man. He had a wry sense of humour and was a pleasure to be around. He was a great ambassador of British high jumping. It is an honour for us to have him as part of our sporting history.”

Jamaican Prime Minster Andrew Holness tweeted: "Our sincere condolences to the entire sporting fraternity."

The athlete switched to represent Great Britain in 2006 and won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He currently holds the Jamaican national record for the high jump.