Prominent businessman named as victim of Swiss air tragedy

The second British victim of a plane crash in the Swiss alps has been named as Lye businessman, Tony Hall.

Mr Hall was on board a light aircraft which crashed in the mountains near the town of Leukerbad in the southern canton of Valais on Tuesday.

The authorities said the Cirrus SR22T took off from Sion airport in the Rhône Valley and, for unknown reasons, crashed into a mountain slope about 10 minutes later.

Emergency teams from the Valais Rescue Organisation, police and firefighters were sent to the scene along with three helicopters.

Mr Hall was a prominent businessman in the region, and was Managing Director of Pegasus Group, based in Lye.

A spokesperson for the family said: "We are completely heartbroken by the loss of a truly wonderful husband, devoted father and much-loved man.

"Tony was an exceptional businessman who achieved great things in the construction/haulage industry, and his commitment to succeed and progress never faltered.

"Although a prominent business figure, he was first and foremost a loving husband and an incredible dad to his daughter, whose family meant everything to him. We will miss him immensely and will remember him as the kind, caring, generous, determined and fantastic character he was.

"We are incredibly grateful for the kindness, love, and support shown to our family during this devastating time. Our hearts go out to those who also lost their lives in this terrible tragedy.

"We would now respectfully ask for privacy as we try to come to terms with our loss and say goodbye to a man who meant the world to us."