BA girl killed in car crash was excited at starting dream job
A BRITISH Airways flight attendant was killed alongside two colleagues in a New Year’s Eve car crash just weeks after landing her dream job, it was revealed yesterday.
Rachel Clark, 20, died along with fellow cabin crew members Joe Finnis, 25, and Dominic Fell, 23, after their Toyota Yaris was in a smash with a lorry near Heathrow airport.
Another 25-year-old stewardess, who had also joined the crew recently, remained in a serious condition in hospital last night.
Rachel, described as “kind and beautiful”, proudly posted messages on Facebook after completing her training.
She told of her excitement as she prepared for “the start of a new chapter”.
On November 22, she had posted photographs dressed in her new uniform at a ceremony held to mark the end of cabin crew training.
She wrote: “What a crazy six months it has been.Thank you to everyone that has supported me along the way and to this fabulous group of people for making these weeks bearable.”
Precious
Yesterday, one well-wisher wrote “fly high precious angels” as a fundraising page set up for the families of the crew reached nearly £60,000.
The friends were travelling to a New Year’s Eve party when tragedy struck just 21 minutes before midnight.
Rachel, of west London, had previously worked part-time at Harlequins rugby union club after attending Gumley House convent cchool in Hounslow and Kingston College.
Her parents Claire and Michael and brother Jack were being comforted last night as tributes flooded in.
One friend, Marnee Burgess, said: “I can’t believe you’re gone. I will never forget that beautiful smile that lights up every room you enter.”
Another friend, Hanushe Lala, said: “I am truly lost for words. You were a kind, beautiful and intelligent person who only ever brightened up everyone’s day.
“You will always have a special place in my heart, forever and always. I hope you rest in eternal peace. All our thoughts and prayers are with your family and loved ones.” Stephen
Horror... wreck of car after New Year’s Eve crash that claimed lives of cabin crew including Dominic, left, and Joe, right, just before midnight
Crook, who set up the fundraising page, wrote: “Heaven has gained three angels who knew the skies very well but their memory and spirit will live on with us always.”
Joe Finnis, a former RAF cadet who lived in Southampton, had undergone pilot training alongside his cabin crew role with the airline.
Distraught
Fellow cabin crew member Lucy Barfoot wrote on the fundraising page: “Joe was a great coach and we appreciate the work he did for us. He was very positive and kind. Rest in peace.”
Daniel Seymour wrote: “I’m so sad and wish him to have the best send-off possible. As well as the others involved in the accident.They will all be missed.”
Dominic Fell, originally from Grimsby, had worked at BA for two years. The keen photographer had
studied at the University of the Arts London, where he gained a degree in photojournalism.
Yesterday, distraught colleagues hugged each other as they tearfully laid flowers at the scene of the crash, close to the airport’s southern perimeter fence in Stanwell, Surrey.
One crew member who visited the scene, who is a friend of the injured passenger, said: “She is a lovely person. We are praying for her recovery. She had only been with BA about a month.”
The Mercedes HGV lorry ended up plunging into a river after the collision.
The vehicle was part of a fleet operated by air services provider dnata.
The driver was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Chief Inspector Mike Hodder, of Surrey Police, said: “We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to what happened.”