Land speed record holder dies in helicopter crash

British-born investor and world record holder Charles Burnett III is amongfive people killed in a helicopter crash in New Mexico.

The group of friends, including a Zimbabwean opposition leader, were travelling to a ranch in the US state when their helicopter crashed in a remote area.

Mr Burnett, was 61, and was based in Houston, but rented Newton Park House near Lymington which he occasionally visited.

He and his Hampshire-based team set a world record when he drove a steam-powered car in 2009.

The 25ft-long British Steam Car - nicknamed the "fastest kettle in the world"- reached an average speed of 139.843mph on two runs over a measured mile at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The timing beat the previous record of 127mph set by American Fred Marriott in a Stanley steam car at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1906.Mr Marriott's timing was the longest-standing officially-recognised land speed record but it was beaten by Mr Burnett's team with him at the wheel.

He was in a long-term relationship with Andra Cobb, the only survivor of thecrash and daughter of Paul Cobb, who was the co-pilot of the helicopter, APreported.

New Mexico State Police said opposition leader Roy Bennett, Mr Bennett's wife, Heather; and pilot Jamie Coleman Dodd were also killed in the crash.

Police said on they received a call at 6pm local time on January 17 about adowned helicopter.

They said a wreckage was spotted in a rancher's property east of Raton and was engulfed in fire.

The AP said Federal Aviation Administration records show the Huey UH-1 was registered to Sapphire Aviation LLC, which records show was linked to Mr Burnett.

Police said Ms Cobb sustained serious injuries but was expected to survive.