To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Dies In Helicopter Crash

NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Dies In Helicopter Crash

He was one of nine people aboard

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

Former NBA star Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash in southern California.

The 41-year-old is reported to have been travelling with eight others, with LA County Sheriffs Department confirming that nobody has survived.

NBC also reported that there were five people on board.

A call for a downed helicopter went out at 10.01am, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. Emergency services attended the scene and put out the fire. All nine people aboard were killed, which included Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and the pilot of the aircraft, among others.

The Los Angeles Lakers star won five championships with the team, often being compared to Michael Jordan.

Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and three other daughters - Natalia, Bianca and Capri, with the youngest born in June 2019.

The tragic news comes only hours after he toasted fellow NBA icon and current Laker LeBron James, who had just overtaken him on the league's all-time scoring list to take up third place.

Bryant was the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008 and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also two-time NBA scoring champion and a two-time Olympic champion.

After leaving the sport, he went on to win an Oscar for the best short animated film in 2018. Dear Basketball is a five-minute long film based on a love letter to the sport that he wrote in 2015.

Tributes have started to pour in for the star.

RIP Kobe Bryant.

Featured Image Credit: