Only female commando-trained officer in British Navy among victims of Devon helicopter crash

Three members of the British Royal Navy have been identified as the individuals who lost their lives in a helicopter crash during a training exercise in Devon.

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Heroes who 'saved lives' after reportedly avoiding nearby houses and a Travelodge hotel at the last moment.

The deceased have been named as Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24. Their Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field near the village of Sourton Down, close to Okehampton. Local residents reportedly described the crew as 'heroes,' suggesting they may have averted greater disaster by steering the aircraft away from nearby houses and a Travelodge hotel just before impact.

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She was an inspiration to women in the armed forces, and her death is a huge loss.

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, one of the helicopter's pilots, was noted for being the only woman in the Royal Navy with commando training. She had also appeared on ITV programs such as 'Take Me Out' and 'Ninja Warrior UK.' The Royal Navy described her as 'an inspiration' to women in the armed forces, stating her death is 'a huge loss.' Fisher joined the University Officers' Training Corps in 2012 and entered the University Air Squadron in 2013. After working as an exploration geologist for BP for two years, she resigned in 2018 and joined the Royal Navy as an officer about a year later.

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Lily-Mae was an extraordinary daughter, sister, and partner. To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.

Her family released a statement remembering her as an 'extraordinary daughter, sister, and partner' who 'lived life to the fullest.' They expressed immense pride in her achievements and noted the 'impossible void' her passing leaves. Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, from Somerset, joined the Navy in September 2008 as a warfare officer (pilot) after completing a master's degree in aerospace engineering. His family described him as a 'kind and loving family man' deeply passionate about his naval career. Petty Officer Owen Green was from Hampshire.

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We are extremely proud of everything she achieved. She has left an impossible void in our lives and in the lives of everyone she touched and inspired.