Three Royal Navy personnel died Wednesday morning when their Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed in a Devon field. among the deceased was Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, who held the distinction of being the UK's sole female Royal Navy commando.

The 4am crash near Sourton Down

The incident occurred just before 4am on Wednesday when a Merlin Mk4 helicopter plummeted into a field near the village of Sourton Down, close to Okehampton. According to the report,the aircraft exploded upon impact, leaving debris scattered across the grass. local residents described the crew as heroes, noting that the aircraft avoided hitting nearby homes and a local Travelodge hotel during its descent.

The crash claimed the lives of three crew members : Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24. Defence Secretary John Healey stated on Wednesday that these individuals were highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of the British Armed Forces.

The 16-week All Arms Commando Course milestone

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher's career was marked by a series of rare achievements, most notably her completion of the 16-week All Arms Commando Course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. as the report says, very few women have completed this grueling training, and doing so made Lieutenant Fisher the only serving female Royal Navy commando in Britain.

Beyond her military accolades, Lieutenant Fisher was a high-achiever in academia and athletics. She graduated from Imperial College London in 2016 with a degree in geology and worked as an exploration geologist for BP for two years before commissioning into the Royal Navy in 2019. Her public profile included appearances on Ninja Warrior UK and Take Me Out, as well as representing Great Britain at the 2021 European Age Group Triathlon Championships .

From Aerospace Engineering to Junglie Aircrewmen

The other victims of the Devon crash brought distinct expertise to the 846 Naval Air Squadron and 845 Naval Air Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, a Somerset resident, held a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Bath and had served as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer since September 2008. His family remembered him as a gentle man who was deeply dedicated to his naval career.

Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, joined the Royal Navy in January 2022. After initial training at HMS Raleigh, he achieved his goal of serving as a "Junglie" aircrewman. His family described him as a devoted partner and son whose kindness touched everyone he met.

The investigation into the Merlin Mk4's low-level flight

Investigators arrived at the crash site near Okehampton on June 4, 2026, to determine why the Merlin Mk4 fell from the sky. witnesses reported that the helicopter had been flying at a very low level immediately before it plummeted and exploded. Sir Gwyn, the head of the Navy, expressed deep sadness over the loss of the three crew members.

Several critical questions remain unanswered as the investigation proceeds. It is currently unknown whether the low-level flight was part of a planned exercise or a result of mechanical failure. Furthermore, the report does not specify if there were any distress signals sent by the pilots before the impact, leaving it unclear whether the crew was aware of the impending crash.