Stunt biker, 15, dies in display crash

A 15-year-old motorbike stunt rider died at a military tattoo when he crashed with a team-mate and was hit by another.

Abbas Malik, from East Ham, east London, died in hospital after suffering head, chest and leg injuries.

Members of his team, the Honda Imps, were performing a manoeuvre called the Irish Whip, where motorbikes come from three different areas of the arena to cross in the centre, when the accident happened at the Colchester Jubilee Searchlight Tattoo.

Spectators said Abbas was thrown 20ft by the collision. The town's deputy mayor Chris Hall, a doctor, treated the boy before he was taken to hospital. His mother Nisar Malik and stepfather Mohammed Rauf were at his bedside when he died, police said. They were not at the tattoo on Saturday in East Bergholt, Essex.

Mrs Malik issued a statement through police. She said: "Abbas was a very cheerful 15-year-old. He was loved by everybody, family, friends, neighbours and the whole community. He will be missed by lots of people.''

Abbas had been with the Imps team, whose members are between five and 16, for three years and was classed as a very skilled rider. He was understood to have been riding a 250cc Honda Enduro.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the death.