Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter accident; prayers for basketball star's wife Vanessa Bryant

Kobe Bryant Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison

Kobe Bryant has reportedly died in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning in California .The NBA star, 41, was travelling with four people in his private helicopter when it crashed in Calabasas.

All five people onboard are reported to have died in the accident.

A call for a downed helicopter went out at 10.01am local time, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Firefighters arrived at the scene and put out the flames.

READ MORE: Kobe Bryant & daughter Gianna attended Sunday church service just hours before tragic death

However, it was later reported that there were no survivors from the crash.

"Unfortunately there were no survivors," said Tony Imbrenda of the Los Angeles County Fire. 

READ MORE: Kobe Bryant's Daughter Gianna, 13, Dies Alongside Father In Helicopter Crash

Immediately messages started filtering in from across the internet, with hundreds offering prayers for Kobe's wife, Vanessa Bryant, who is not thought to have been on board.

READ MORE: Kobe Bryant Shares How A Catholic Priest Changed His Life READ MORE: Reports That Kobe Bryant's 4 Daughters On Board Helicopter At Time Of Crash Are Inaccurate

President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: "Terrible news."

Meanwhile, fellow NBA legend Kevin Love tweeted, "Please no. Please god no. It can't be true."

Celebrity reporters at TMZ quoted eyewitnesses as saying they heard the helicopter's engine in trouble just before it went down. 

News
Justin Welby's woeful ignorance of same-sex relationships
Justin Welby's woeful ignorance of same-sex relationships

Justin Welby seems to want to be a cheerleader for the LGBT cause, but he clearly hasn’t done his homework first. 

Gay man awarded five-figure sum after claiming to undergo 'exorcism' at evangelical church
Gay man awarded five-figure sum after claiming to undergo 'exorcism' at evangelical church

The church has apologised for mishandling his complaint but denies engaging in conversion therapy.

Research suggests many Brits are afraid to express true opinions
Research suggests many Brits are afraid to express true opinions

New research by Ipsos Mori has found that many Brits fear expressing their true feelings on race, religion and immigration in case they offend someone.

High Court ruling against police participation in Pride welcomed
High Court ruling against police participation in Pride welcomed

The judgment recognises that Pride is a political position.