DNA test identifies Hong Kong tycoon killed in crash
French police have identified the body of Hong Kong-based tycoon Lam Kok, who was in a helicopter crash in France's wine-growing Bordeaux region as he flew over a newly acquired wine estate.
The body was found on February 14 near the accident site, almost two months after the chopper plunged into the Dordogne River.
"The body was formally identified after DNA tests to be that of Lam Kok," said colonel Ghislain Rety, who heads the gendarmerie in the Gironde, where the vineyard is located.
The 46-year-old tea magnate had invited the press to his lush new property on December 20 to celebrate his US$41 million purchase. He took off on a helicopter tour of the estate - which he intended to turn into an elite tea- and wine-tasting retreat - with his 12-year-old son Kok Shun-yu, his financial adviser and the chateau's former owner, James Gregoire.
Kok's wife, Liu Xiangyun, reportedly decided not to fly as she is afraid of helicopters. The chopper crashed soon after taking to the air. The three other bodies have been found.
Gregoire, who was flying the helicopter, had bought the chateau in 2003 after the former proprietor died in an air crash.
