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
13 Christians abducted in church attack in Nigeria
13 Christians abducted in church attack in Nigeria

Thirteen Christians have been abducted by a militia group in Nigeria following a skirmish in Kogi State.

Former moderator of Church of Scotland teams up with pop star to release Christmas song
Former moderator of Church of Scotland teams up with pop star to release Christmas song

What do you do when you've retired from leading a church?

Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'

The university and students' union said the play was within the bounds of free speech laws.

Pro-life campaigner who silently prayed in abortion clinic buffer zone criminally charged
Pro-life campaigner who silently prayed in abortion clinic buffer zone criminally charged

A pro-life campaigner who silently prayed near an abortion clinic in Birmingham has been criminally charged.