Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna have both died in a helicopter crash, according to reports.
VIDEO: Basketball star Kobe Bryant and daughter dead in helicopter crash
The 41-year-old retired NBA player and his daughter were amongst the nine passengers in the private helicopter travelling in the city of Calabasas, California when it crashed and burst into flames, according to TMZ.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed the death toll rose from three to nine people.
The authorities went on to decline requests to identify the victims pending identification by the coroner and notification of their family members.
Bryant was travelling to the Mamba Sports Academy with his daughter for her basketball game. Gianna was expected to play in the game and Bryant was expected to coach.
“Individuals that saw the aircraft said it was coming down at a fairly significant rate of speed and impacted the ground on the hillside,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Tony Imbrenda told reporters.
The five-time NBA champion was widely considered one of the greatest players in the game’s history.
Bryant entered the NBA league straight out of high school where he spent his entire career as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA also released a statement, saying it was “devastated” by Byrant’s death.
“Words cannot express his impact on our Players, the NBA and the game of basketball,” the league said.
“This is a monumental loss for the entire basketball community and our hearts are quite simply broken.
“We send love and prayers out to his wife Vanessa and the entire family.”
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