Ukraine plane crash
A pro-Russian separatist looks at wreckage from the nose section of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane which crashed in eastern Ukraine. Reuters

Helicopter rescue pilot and father-of-two Cameron Dalziel is believed to be among the ten Britons killed in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster.

Dalziel, 43, who is understood to be South African but travelling on a British passport, had moved to Malaysia for work last October with his wife and their two sons, aged 14 and four.

The victim's brother-in-law told Eyewitness News in South Africa that his sister, Reine Dalziel, is so traumatised she has not been able to answer phone calls from anxious relatives.

He said: "She is basically alone there other than with new friends. So she couldn't even talk to me. Apparently three people from the company were there with her. It's crazy, the kids are going to be absolutely shattered."

Dalziel is believed to have been working for CHC Helicopter in Malaysia, but had been sent for training in the Netherlands. He was returning on yesterday's Malaysia Airlines flight when the plane was shot down over war-torn Ukraine, near the Russian border.

A spokesperson for CHC Helicopters said: "We are aware that a CHC colleague from one of our bases in Asia may have been on the Malaysia Airlines flight and are awaiting confirmation from the airline."

South African politician Stevens Mokgalapa paid tribute to Dalziel, saying: "The DA extends our deepest condolences to the family of Cameron Dalziel.

"We also extend our condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of all others who died in this horrific tragedy."

Neil Noble, an Australian helicopter paramedic, said on Twitter: "Mourning tragic loss of one of worlds best rescue helicopter pilots, Cameron Dalziel Great man, father, husband."

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