Britain's only female Royal Navy commando shared poignant photos of her fulfilling dream of flying helicopter - days before fatal crash during her last training flight that killed her and two male crew members

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:18, 5 June 2026 | Updated: 14:22, 5 June 2026 The Royal Navy's only serving female commando shared poignant footage of herself fulfilling her long-held dream of flying helicopters for the military just days before her death.  Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher was on her final training run when the Merlin Mk4 helicopter she was piloting came down in a field in Devon just before 4am on Wednesday. The crash claimed the life of the 31-year-old, as well as her male crewmates Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24. The exact circumstances of the incident have not been ascertained, but residents living in the area hailed the crew, who were part of 846 Naval Air Squadron, as 'heroes' who 'saved lives' by avoiding nearby homes and a Travelodge hotel. The crash came just weeks before Lt Fisher was due to receive her flying wings after years of training to join one of the most elite units in the military. Lt Fisher, described by many as an inspiration to women in the armed forces, had shared photos and videos of herself flying the same type of helicopter just days before her death. She took to Instagram to celebrate her progress through the military, sharing a photograph of herself grinning while at the controls alongside a video in which the Merlin Mk4 was seen firing ammunition in a training exercise. 'Be the person who took the leap, took the risks, bet on yourself, made the money, and lives the life you once dreamed of,' she told her 50,000 followers. Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, died alongside Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, when the Merlin Mk4 came down in a field just before 4am on Wednesday  Investigators are pictured on the scene near Okehampton in Devon on Thursday morning 'Whilst always chasing the next goal every year, it's so easy to forget to stop and recognise how far I've actually come.  'The young girl who felt stuck, unhappy, and unfulfilled in a desk job in her early 20s, who took the leap anyway. She kept going. She backed herself just enough. She persevered. 'I'm still very much in training, still learning, still working towards the bigger picture, but little pinch me moments like this are important to appreciate when they come along. 'A little reminder to keep betting on yourself. The life you want is often on the other side of persistence.' Defence Secretary John Healey said on Wednesday that the three, who were based in Yeovil, Somerset, were 'dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces'. The King said today he was left 'profoundly shocked' by the fatal Royal Navy helicopter crash and said the service of those killed was 'held in the highest regard'. Charles spoke publicly for the first time about the crash in Devon earlier this week as he presented new colours to Royal Marines Commando units during a Windsor Castle ceremony. A second post from Lt Fisher included footage of a helicopter flying through the sky, and her sitting on an open ramp as it travelled over the countryside.  Lt Fisher documented much of her military journey on Instagram, where she encouraged other women not to give up on their dreams. She told in one post how she failed the aptitude test to enter the military twice and faced lengthy medical delays before she was finally approved to serve in the navy. But once she'd been accepted into the forces, Lt Fisher continued to chase new challenges, notably representing Great Britain in triathlon, having trained throughout the pandemic. She then took on the mammoth challenge of completing a 16-week gruelling commando course to earn herself the green beret - something very few women have ever successfully done. Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson (left) and Petty Officer Owen Green (right) were also killed Lt Fisher appeared on the ITV shows Take Me Out and Ninja Warrior UK before joining the Royal Navy 'It's the hardest thing in my life I've ever done and I think that's why it's the best thing,' she told a podcaster and former military man Phil Campion. Describing the toughest elements of the course - on which she was the only woman - she said a superior encouraged her to stay on track, telling her he had 'never seen anybody with as much determination and mental resilience as you, keep going'. More recently, Lt Fisher had devoted a lot of her spare time to visiting schools, universities and cadet groups to speak to young people about her time in the military.  'The younger generation need to see a female in this role to believe that they can [do it] as well,' she told Mr Campion. She died alongside her two colleagues when the chopper they were flying plummeted to the ground and exploded close to the village of Sourton Down, near Okehampton. She has been described by the Royal Navy as 'an inspiration' to women in the armed forces, with her death a 'huge loss'. Witnesses said the chopper had been flying at a very low level before it plummeted to the ground and exploded close to the village of Sourton Down, near Okehampton, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Aerial images from the scene of the crash show debris left scattered across the grass. The cause has not yet been ascertained. Lt Fisher grew up in Virginia Water, Surrey, with her stay-at-home mother and wholesale fruit and vegetables salesman father. A drone photo shows the scene of the Royal Navy helicopter crash at Sourton Cross on Wednesday A huge fire in the field in Sourton Down after the helicopter came down at about 4am on June 3 She described finding her school years difficult, before going on to university and graduating from Imperial College London in 2016 in geology. She had joined the University Army Officer Training Corps in 2012 and then the University Air Squadron in 2013.  As a student, she appeared on Take Me Out - on which she successfully scored a date with singleton Paul. They dated for several months before parting ways. She would also later make a brief appearance on Ninja Warriors UK.  Lt Fisher battled struggles with her mental health and an eating disorder and initially worked as an exploration geologist for BP for two years, until she resigned in 2018 – saying later she had 'hated' the office-based role. She accepted a commission in the Royal Navy around a year later, after passing her aptitude test on the third attempt. She previously described being in the navy as a 'massive privilege and a huge honour to serve my country'. Among her helicopter flying training, Lt Fisher represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in 2021. After a stint in a supporting role to a specialist maritime unit, she successfully completed the 16-week All Arms Commando Course – something very few women have completed to date. Completing the course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines meant she became Britain's only serving female Royal Navy commando. Her achievement was celebrated by the armed forces and Nato, with the MoD describing her as an 'inspiration to countless people'. She posted to her thousands of followers on social media about some of her achievements, including stepping into the cockpit of a Merlin helicopter for the first time in August last year. Her family said: 'Lily-Mae was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, and partner. To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her. 'We are so proud of everything she accomplished. She has left an immeasurable hole in our lives, and in all the lives she has touched and inspired. The family kindly ask for time and space at this difficult time.' Paying tribute to the trio, Commander of Joint Aviation Command, Air Vice-Marshal Lee Turner, said: 'The loss of three deeply capable and professional aviators during the tragic incident yesterday is the cause of profound sadness across the Joint Aviation Command and the Commando Helicopter Force in particular. 'They will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with the families and all those affected.' Tributes have also been paid to her crew members Lt Cdr Gayson, 42, from Somerset and Petty Officer Green, 24, from Hampshire. Lt Cdr Gayson joined the Navy as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in September 2008 after studying for a Masters in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bath. He served with 846 Naval Air Squadron and was promoted to the role of Lieutenant Commander in 2020. The MoD said his leadership was 'exemplary' and labelled him the 'utmost professional'. His family said: 'Chris was an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly. 'He was also passionate about and dedicated to his job in the Royal Navy.' Meanwhile, Petty Officer Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022, beginning initial training at HMS Raleigh before serving with 845 Naval Air Squadron. He picked up a high number of flying hours during missions in demanding Arctic conditions. The MoD said he had become one of his squadron's most experienced operators in extreme environments, adding that he made a 'significant contribution to squadron capability and mission success'. His family said: 'Losing Owen has left us all devastated. His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken. 'He was a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner to Iona, whom he loved and cherished. 'His kindness, warmth, and character touched everyone who knew him. We are so proud of him achieving his life's goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona's lives. 'He is so loved and will remain in our hearts forever.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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