Former Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton bodyguard killed in Harley-Davidson crash

A bodyguard trusted with protecting some of the biggest names in entertainment and sport has died following a crash involving two Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Hampshire.

Mason Haynes, a highly respected figure in the close protection industry whose clients included Kim Kardashian, Lewis Hamilton, David Beckham, Beyoncé and Kanye West, was killed in a four-vehicle collision on the A287 Farnham Road near Crondall on July 4.

Hampshire Police say the crash involved two Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a BMW X3 and an LDV Maxus motorhome, with officers called to the scene shortly before 8pm. One of the riders, a man in his 50s from Surrey, died at the scene, while a second motorcyclist, a man in his 30s from Hampshire, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

Although police did not initially identify the deceased rider, tributes from friends, family and colleagues later confirmed it was Haynes, who died just two days before his 53rd birthday.

Standing 6ft 10in tall and known throughout the security world simply as "Big Mase", Haynes spent more than two decades working in close protection, building a client list that read like a who's who of modern celebrity culture. Alongside the Kardashian family and Formula One star Lewis Hamilton, he had also worked with stars including Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Charlie Puth and ABBA during the Swedish group's reunion shows.

Haynes was perhaps best known for his work with Kim Kardashian and her family, having been part of the security team around the reality TV star during the aftermath of the infamous Paris robbery in 2016. During the raid, Kardashian was held at gunpoint in a hotel room during Paris Fashion Week. Despite his proximity to some of the world's most recognisable faces, Haynes was widely regarded as fiercely professional and notably private about his work.

Tributes from across the close protection industry have described him as a mentor, protector and larger-than-life character who was as respected by colleagues as he was by clients.

His employer, Trojan Security UK, described him as "a legend in the close protection game", while messages from friends and former colleagues painted the picture of a man who had helped countless people both inside and outside the industry.

A fundraising page set up to support his wife Fay and children Brooke and Noah described Haynes as "a giant in every sense of the word" and "a man who would cross countries to help a friend".

Hampshire Police continue to appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage from anyone who was travelling along the A287 Farnham Road between Calf Lane and Chalky Lane at around 7.40pm on July 4. Officers said three of the vehicles involved were travelling eastbound while the motorhome was travelling westbound at the time of the collision.

You can find out more information about fundraising on the official website.

Images - GoFundMe

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