The sister of a man who died when a trick at a stunt show in Clacton went horribly wrong told how she was on her way to meet her brother when the accident happened.

Doreen Wiles, of Coggeshall, said she had just picked up instructions from him on how to get to the Rush Green Recreation Ground in the town from her answerphone.

"I left the house about 8pm and was driving to Clacton to pick Colin up after the show," she said. "It was to be his last performance as he had a hernia problem and was due to see a doctor the next day."

Colin Burns, whose stage name was Richard Kyall, died when he was hit by a motorbike during a jump stunt - at just about the time Mrs Wiles left home.

"When I got there I was met by police officers who told me what had happened to my brother," she said.

"They had been trying to get hold of me but I had already left. I told them they had made a mistake as he was just the announcer - but it was true. The whole family are devastated."

Mrs Wiles said that her one comfort was that her brother died doing what he loved best.

"He was a performer all his life and he lived for an audience," she added. "He used to do conjuring tricks and magic for me when I was a child."

Mrs Wiles said she had seen Colin perform at the Hollywood Stunt Show last year. Mr Burns was her only brother. His ex-wife, Maria, lives in York with their 21-year-old daughter, Sara.

Show team devastated

Ian Batey, foreman of the Hollywood Stunt Show, said: "The whole show is totally devastated. Everyone is just ready to give up."

The stunt had been performed "for the last 20 years every single day and never before have we had any accidents," he said.

Tony Sutton, the 24-year-old motorcycle rider, had performed the stunt many times before, said Mr Batey.

He added the long-term future of the show would be decided by the organisers.

Mr Batey said Mr Burns had been with the show for several years and had taken part in the stunt before.

"At the moment our only thoughts are with Mr Burns' family and friends. A full investigation is under way and we are co-operating fully with the authorities."

Mr Batey paid tribute to Mr Burns: "He was an excellent guy and loved the job. His family have just been here. They are totally devastated and cannot believe it has happened.

"Tony Sutton, 24, has broken a couple of ribs but he's not worried about his health - he is only worried about the compere."

Mr Sutton was today (Friday) recovering in Colchester General Hospital from a suspected broken collar bone.

Polite and professional

Colin Burns was due to leave the Hollywood Stunt Show following its Clacton display which ended in tragedy.

His agent, Richard Smith, of the Colchester-based Essex Entertainments Agency, said he spoke to Mr Burns hours before his death.

Mr Smith, who worked with Mr Burns for 15 years, said today (Friday): "I hadn't spoken to him for months but he told me he was leaving the show and that that night was going to be his last night.

"He was going to have a hernia operation. But he was going to be available to do some work.

"He was a very nice man, always very polite and very professional."

A magical friend and neighbour

Neighbours of stunt crash victim Colin Burns knew him as the "magic man".

Shopkeeper Jenny Smith at Bathside Stores, Ingestre Street, near his terraced house at Fernlea Road, Dovercourt, said she often spoke to keen gardener and chef Mr Burns when he came into the store.

She said: "We'd often swap recipes. He would take a cake and change the recipe to suit him. That summed him up really, he liked things a bit different.

"After his mother died he was just getting the house how he liked it. He was going to use the money from this tour to get new carpets."

Mr Burns had an allotment by the Redoubt fort. Allotment keeper Norman Inglis said: "He loved his herbs, and he had done a great job with his back garden.

"I saw him perform at the United Services Club. He was very talented and a very nice man who will be missed."

Mr Burns had lived in Fernlea Road for 20 years. His mother lived there until she died five years ago.

He often gave magic performances at venues like Dovercourt Community Centre in Long Meadows.

His daughter, Sara, visited the town to stay with Mr Burns last year and sometimes helped with his act.

He was often seen driving his blue Mercedes with an advert for Richard Kyall - his stage name - in the back.

Neighbour and friend Ron Field agreed Mr Burns would be missed.

He said: "He was a really nice guy. He used to have a dove for his show and I would look after it for him - it was a nice tame bird. We would never go out because he was a quiet guy, but we would sit out at the front and have a can of beer occasionally.

"He was just easy to get on with and talk to - he was a very nice guy.

Peter Fisher, also from Fernlea Road, said: "Colin has been a good friend for ten years, what else can you say? My mother and his were good friends, it is just a terrible shock."

First-aider tells of his shock

The first medically trained person on the scene after the stunt show went fatally wrong told of his horror.

First-aider Michael Melton, 50, of Portsmouth Road, Martello Bay, Clacton, who was in the crowd watching, said: "After a second or two I got up and went over. The team was so deeply shocked - we all were.

"I checked the motorcyclist and called for an ambulance and got a colleague to call for the police.

"There was a lady in the crowd who said she was a fully trained nurse and two people who said they were off-duty paramedics so I left them with the motorcyclist and went to the compere.

"I took his pulse and there was a very small movement but then it ceased. I saw the extent of his injuries, which were horrendous, and realised there was nothing we could do. It was very sad.

"I was just thinking I have got to protect the public and the guys there as well. God was on my side and somehow I found the inner strength.

"Everyone on that field who saw what happened would be affected. There were a lot of children and many may need counselling."

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