ONE of the Royal Navy crew killed in a helicopter crash off Cornwall is a former Huddersfield man.

Lt Dave Cole, 34, who was Commander of the Royal Navy Lynx helicopter which crashed into the sea on a rescue mission, is the son of a former Scissett Middle School headteacher.

His father, Michael Cole, of Holmfirth, spent 15 years as headteacher before retiring in July 2002.

Mr Cole was responsible for many changes at the school, where he was head after a distinguished teaching career.

An investigation into what caused the helicopter to crash into the English Channel killing its four crew was continuing today.

Lt Cole, from Dorset, died along with Lt Rob Dunn, 29, from Dorset, Lt Jamie Mitchell, 29, from Dundee and Leading Air Engineering Mechanic Richard Darnell, 31, from Torquay.

All were killed when their aircraft crashed off the Cornish coast last week.

The helicopter had been responding to an emergency call and was 17 miles from Lizard Point when it disappeared from radar at about 7pm on Wednesday.

Family, friends and fellow service personnel have paid tribute to the four crew, who all came from 229 Flight of 815 Naval Air Squadron based at Yeovilton in Somerset.

Lt Cole, who had married last summer, was the observer and commander of 229 flight.

The MoD said he was "extremely popular" and was known as a down-to-earth officer with a human touch.

Lt Cole's father-in-law Stuart Dunkinson said: "He was a great guy. You couldn't wish to meet anyone greater. We all miss him terribly. He was loved by everybody."

Mr Dunkinson, 48, from Sherborne in Dorset, said Lt Cole had been married to his daughter Anna, 22, for only four months and they did not have children.

The search for survivors of the crash was called off on Thursday night after four bodies were found near the wreckage of the helicopter on the seabed.