On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office has confirmed that the bodies of Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant and three other victims of the horrific helicopter crash in Calabasas, California have been identified.
The terrible tragedy took the lives of the Lakers icon, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. They were on their way to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks last Sunday.
Per an Associated Press report, fingerprints were used to confirm the identities of the four victims. It included the body of the 41-year-old Bryant, along with his associates John Altobelli, 56, and Sarah Chester, 45.
The remains of the chopper's pilot, 50-year-old Ara Zobayan, was identified as well.
The body of Gianna, Chester's 13-year-old daughter, Payton; Altobelli's wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa; and girl's basketball coach Christina Mauser have been recovered and identified by their families. However, they have not been formally identified.
Authorities initially had a hard time recovering all the bodies due to the crash site's “very rough terrain”.
California authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation of the events leading to the shocking accident.
Terrible weather conditions were reported as the main cause, which forced an experienced pilot like Zobayan to crash the helicopter into a foggy Calabasas hillside.
Players like Lakers superstar LeBron James, Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul have expressed their grief on the unfortunate accident. Pau Gasol, who played with Kobe for years, was also at a loss for words over the untimely passing of one of the greatest players in the game.
More than 48 hours removed from the harrowing accident, the world is still mourning over the tragic incident. Tributes continue to pour around the world for Kobe Bryant and Gianna. Concerned parties are also urging the public to grieve for all the families affected as well, regardless of their social stature.
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