Chinese tea tycoon and son among four dead when helicopter crashed into a river as they flew over his newly purchased Bordeaux vineyard
- - Lam Kok and seller James Gregoire were viewing the property from above
- - Mr Kok's 12-year-old son and an interpreter were also aboard the aircraft
- - All four killed when the helicopter dropped from the sky near Bordeaux
By PETER ALLEN
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A billionaire and his son died when his helicopter crashed into the Dordogne river while they were admiring the family's newly purchased vineyards in south west France.
Lam Kok, a 46-year-old Chinese tycoon, was with his 12-year-old son when their helicopter dropped out of the sky near Bordeaux.
Four people died in total, including pilot James Gregoire, who had just sold the vineyards of Chateau de la Riviera to Mr Kok.
Missing: Chinese tea tycoon Lam Kok stands with James Gregoire and their respective wives after sealing the deal on his purchase of
the Chateau de la Riviere in Bordeaux, France, just an hour before going missing tonight
Rescue operation: Search lights shine across the Dordogne after the helicopter Mr Kok and Mr Gregoire were travelling in apparently plunged into the river as they made an aerial survey of the property this evening
Grim search: Divers look out from their boat as they hunt for signs of the two men. Mr Kok's 12-year-old son and an interpreter were also aboard the aircraft, which an eyewitness reported seeing plummet into the river
Major operation: Emergency helicopters and around 100 officers joined the search which began after the helicopter did not return after
20 minutes and those who had stayed behind contacted emergency services
Mr Kok's wife pulled out at the last minute saying she was 'scared of helicopters', an AFP photographer at the scene said.
Mr Gregoire had bought the land and its 8th Century chateau in 2003 after Jean Leprince, the previous owner, died when his aircraft also crashed nearby.
All in the helicopter had been taking part in a celebratory press day, marking the sale of the historic estate.
They were planning to take a short tour of the vineyard and the grounds of the Château de la Riviere, and when they did not return after 20 minutes, those who had stayed behind contacted emergency services.
Desperate: Inflatable boats were deployed after police received a call from a member of the public indicated the helicopter may have fallen into a nearby river, but no trace of the helicopter has yet been found
Ill fated: The party had been planning to take a short tour of the vineyard and the grounds of the chateau
A major search operation was launched using emergency helicopters and around 100 officers on foot.
Inflatable boats were deployed after police received a call from a member of the public indicated the helicopter may have fallen into a nearby river, but no trace of the helicopter has yet been found.
In a bizarre twist of fate, a previous owner of the Château de la Riviere -- one of the region's oldest estates -- was killed in a helicopter crash in 2002.
Mr Gregoire bought the 160-acre property, the largest in Bordeaux's Fronsac appellation, the following year.
Mr Kok and Mr Gregoire shake hands to seal the deal: The tycoon bought the château for an undisclosed sum
The business of luxury: Mr Kok's Brilliant group, which specialises in rare teas and luxury hotels in China, had said it wanted to turn the château into a high class tea and wine tasting centre
Shake on it: Mr Kok's company, Hong Kong-based Brilliant group, whose interests range from Pu'er - a dark fermented tea from China's Yunnan region - to top-end resorts, also planned to build a hotel near the chateau
Mr Kok and his wife pose in the vineyard: Chinese consumers have developed a taste for the finest French wines and their buying power
has been credited with pushing prices for certain vintages to record levels
Earlier Friday, the vineyard's managing director Xavier Buffo said during a press conference the sale marked the largest Chinese investment in Bordeaux property to date.
Mr Kok's Brilliant group, which specialises in rare teas and luxury hotels in China, had said it wanted to turn the château into a high class tea and wine tasting centre.
The group, whose interests range from Pu'er - a dark fermented tea from China's Yunnan region - to top-end resorts, also planned to build a hotel near the château.
Chinese consumers have developed a taste for the finest French wines and their extensive buying power has been credited with pushing prices for certain vintages to record levels.
In recent years they have increasingly taken to buying vineyards as well. But the level of each transaction has generally been under 10million euros ($13.6 million).
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