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Thousands of euro raised to support families of plane crash victims

British pilot Neil Bowditch died along with seven-year-old Kacper Kacprzak in a light aircraft crash in Co Offaly. Picture from GoFundMe
British pilot Neil Bowditch died along with seven-year-old Kacper Kacprzak in a light aircraft crash in Co Offaly. Picture from GoFundMe British pilot Neil Bowditch died along with seven-year-old Kacper Kacprzak in a light aircraft crash in Co Offaly. Picture from GoFundMe

TENS of thousands of euro have been raised to support the families of two victims of a light aircraft crash in Co Offaly.

Seven-year-old Kacper Kacprzak, from Dublin, died on Sunday alongside British pilot Neil Bowditch.

Kacper's father, a parachutist, had made a scheduled jump from the plane minutes earlier with 15 others, local councillors said.

A Gofundme.com fundraiser has been set up to help the families of the victims.

The pilot was known by the nickname Billy at the Irish Parachute Club and was experienced.

Fund organiser Allaiouti Hassan said: "We are heartbroken by the loss of two cherished members of our family at the Irish Parachute Club, little Kacper, son of our dear friend and fellow skydiver Kris, and Billy, a true gentlemen and a thoughtful and great pilot.

"This is a difficult time for us all. I know that our skydiving family and the wider community want to come together and do what we can to support the families affected by this tragic accident.

"I myself have a son the same age as Kacper who loves planes. Having met Kacper at the club I know he was such a beautiful boy who would touch anyone's heart."

He appealed for donations for the families.

The aircraft had taken off from Clonbullogue airfield at around 2.25pm on Sunday.

It later went down on bog land, a few kilometres from Edenderry.

The bodies were recovered from the wreckage on Sunday night and taken for post-mortem examinations at Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit examined the scene on Monday.

The club said it was "deeply saddened" and confirmed the aircraft had been operating on its behalf.

It thanked the emergency services and investigators.