Father-of-two killed by lightning strike at airfield

A CLOSE friend of a model plane enthusiast killed by lightning has paid tribute to the father-of-two - saying he could not have met a more honest or kind-hearted man.

Roger Baggott was one of many people devastated by the freak death of Kidderminster 63-year-old, Peter Harris, who was struck by a bolt of lightning at the Free Flight National Championships at Barkston Heath airfields, near Grantham, on Sunday afternoon.

The popular event had been halted due to a sudden and violent storm when the tragedy occurred at around 3.30pm, as Mr Harris was cycling along the airfield's runway to collect his aircraft.

His body was discovered when the storm subsided by another competitor whose children told him a man and a bike were lying on the runway.

Paramedics arrived within minutes and administered first aid but the retired BT worker - who was due to represent Britain in the European free flight championships in Romania this summer - was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Grantham Hospital mortuary.

He left behind his wife, Doris, and children Steve, 37, and Jill, 39.

Mr Baggott, who met Mr Harris through their mutual hobby more than 35 years ago, said: "His family was his first love and second to that was model flying. He was very well-known and you couldn't help but like him.

"He had got a great sense of humour, was totally reliable and honest and you couldn't wish for a better friend."

The Franche resident was sheltering in his car at the other side of the airfield when the drama unfolded but said he had never seen such severe lightning.

"I saw one pitch of lightning which had the loudest thunder I've ever heard on either side of it.

"It seemed to be directly over head and really frightened me - it seemed to be very low down."

He added: "Afterwards someone came round having seen him on the runway and asked me where his car was. He had recognised him but it shocked him so much that he couldn't accept it was Peter and he wanted to know where his car was to see if he was sitting in it."

Mr Baggott's comments were echoed by friend Stafford Screen, who said: "It's a staggering loss for his wife and family because he was a well man and it's the last thing anyone would ever expect to happen. There is more than a million to one chance of being struck by lightning and the shock is such that I couldn't believe it had happened to Peter."

The enthusiastic Kidderminster Harriers supporter had represented Britain in numerous free flight competitions, including the world championships in California in 1979, and was looking forward to a family holiday in America when he died.

He had made all of his model planes himself, after taking up the hobby when he was a schoolboy.

Mike Woodhouse, of the British Model Flying Association, organised the weekend event, which had been running for around 40 years, but said such a tragedy had never occurred before.

"We had stopped the event but Peter was getting his model back from his previous flight when it happened," he said.

"There were a couple of crashes and bangs and lightning struck the airfield and it must have been this one that hit Peter. When the rain stopped, a couple of little lads got out of their car and said to their dad there was a bicycle and someone lying on the runway, so he went over and realised what had happened."

The championships were cancelled after the accident but resumed on Monday following a memorial service by the Reverend Stephen Radley of RAF Cranwell.