Royal Navy personnel who died in Devon helicopter crash named
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field during a training exercise on Wednesday morning (June 3)
Last updated 4 hours ago
Britain’s only serving female commando has been named amongst the three victims of a helicopter crash in Devon.
Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, died alongside 42-year-old Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and 24-year-old Petty Officer Owen Green following the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, just before 4am on Wednesday (June 3).
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field during a training exercise, leaving the aircraft completely destroyed.
Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as “dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces”.
Members of the UK armed forces have started paying tribute to the three killed in the crash.
Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force, Colonel Will Penkman, said: “It is a tragedy that we lost three members of the CHF family yesterday.
“Cherished members of the force with bright futures ahead of them, they were all highly committed professionals infused with the Junglie spirit of the force.
“Their loss leaves a terrible gap in our hearts and my thoughts go out to their family and friends who dearly loved them.”
Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, who was based in Yeovil, Somerset, was a member of the Royal Navy from May 2019 before her death in the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, on Wednesday.
She described it as a “massive privilege and a huge honour to serve my country” – with her achievement as the only British female Royal Navy commando being praised by Nato.
Lt Fisher grew up in Virginia Water, Surrey and graduated from Imperial College London in 2016 after studying geology.
She joined the University Army Officer Training Corps in 2012 and then the University Air Squadron in 2013.
The talented sportswoman worked as an exploration geologist for BP for two years, until she resigned in 2018 – accepting a commission in the Royal Navy around a year later.
Among her helicopter flying training, Lt Fisher represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in 2021.
After a stint in a supporting role to a specialist maritime unit, she successfully completed the 16-week All Arms Commando Course – something very few women have completed to date.
Completing the course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines meant she became Britain’s only serving female Royal Navy commando.
Speaking last year, Lt Fisher said: “The body achieves what the mind believes. I love to test myself and challenge myself constantly.”
She added: “If the call was to ever come to go to war, you know, it is my responsibility and my duty to serve in the armed forces, be it in peacetime or at wartime.”
Asked whether she believed a woman could eventually pass the Royal Marines course, Lt Fisher told the BBC last year: “Absolutely. Absolutely, I do think it is possible to pass it.”
She added: “It took me five years to get into the Navy because I kept failing and kept failing and I knew I wanted to be here and I eventually (got) here and I’ve had a really great career.
“Just commit 100% to it if you want to be Marine, if you want to do the commando course – you’ve got to commit with everything you’ve got, and it is possible. It’s not an impossible task.”
Elsewhere, Lt Fisher was selected as a watch keeper during the UK military’s response to the Channel migrant crisis – responsible for securing and recovering those making the journey to prevent deaths at sea.
She posted on social media about her some of achievements, including being able to step into the cockpit of a Merlin helicopter for the first time in August last year.
Outside her career in the military, Lt Fisher also posted about her participation in ultra-marathons in events across the world.
She also took part as a contestant on the ITV shows Take Me Out and Ninja Warrior UK.