BREAKING NEWS: All 11 victims of Shoreham Airshow crash identified

The identities of the 11 victims of the Shoreham Airshow disaster have been confirmed and their families informed, the West Sussex Coroner has said.
People from Fire, Police, and Ambulance services lay flowers near the site where a aircraft smashed into cars on busy road on Saturday in front of thousands of horrified spectators at Shoreham airport, Sussex SUS-150827-082158001People from Fire, Police, and Ambulance services lay flowers near the site where a aircraft smashed into cars on busy road on Saturday in front of thousands of horrified spectators at Shoreham airport, Sussex SUS-150827-082158001
People from Fire, Police, and Ambulance services lay flowers near the site where a aircraft smashed into cars on busy road on Saturday in front of thousands of horrified spectators at Shoreham airport, Sussex SUS-150827-082158001

Inquests into the deaths of the victims will open on Wednesday September 2 at Parkside, Horsham.

Families of the deceased are invited to attend the opening of the inquiry where the names of the 11 victims will be officially released.

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However, due to ongoing investigations by the Air Accident Investigation Branch, the inquest will open and be adjourned to a future date.

West Sussex Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield has met the families of the victims and will be providing them with details of how the matter will proceed further.

She said: “Identifying all 11 victims has been a difficult process due to the horrific nature of the accident and the intensity of the fire.”

She added that the identification process has been completed.

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Ms Schofield said the blast was so intense and the scale of the damage so vast that the remains of the victims have had to be removed very carefully to ensure the deceased were formally identified.

A team of expert forensic archaeologists, anthropologists, odontologists and pathologists have assisted to help identify the victims’ remains.

Detective chief inspector for Sussex Police Carwyn Hughes, the senior identification manager, said: “We were determined to formally confirm with families as soon as we could that their loved ones were involved.

“We are working on their behalf and family liaison officers are providing them with all the help and support they can give.

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“We cannot discount any further victims as our search at the scene continues but we have no reason to suspect that there is anyone else.”

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