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
Conservatives urge incoming Archbishop to drop £100m slavery reparations
Conservatives urge incoming Archbishop to drop £100m slavery reparations

Should church funds be used for slavery reparations? A group of Conservative MPs and peers think not.

What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?
What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?

Pastoral care is not a task reserved for a handful of gifted individuals; it is the life of Christ, quietly at work inside ordinary believers.

Anglican Mainstream sees monthly growth despite web hosting suspension
Anglican Mainstream sees monthly growth despite web hosting suspension

Conservative Christian website, Anglican Mainstream, was surprised to see visitor numbers rise after being forced to relocate its website hosting after GoDaddy closed its account.

Missionary turned soldier in Ukraine balances faith with harsh frontline realities
Missionary turned soldier in Ukraine balances faith with harsh frontline realities

A former missionary who is now serving as a soldier in the Ukrainian army has spoken about the realities of faith for a man tasked with killing in defence of his country.