Basketball legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, killed in California helicopter crash

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash in California.

The 41-year-old, who spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the LA Lakers, was one of nine people on board a helicopter when it crashed outside the city of Calabasas, which is situated to the west of Los Angeles, at around 10am on Sunday morning.

His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also on board as the pair were travelling to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for basketball practice.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the crash ignited a brush fire and made it difficult for firefighters and emergency personnel to get to the helicopter.

The cause of the crash is now under investigation, while witnesses have reported hearing the helicopter’s engine sputtering while it was still in the air.

"There were no survivors, we have a manifest that indicates there were nine people on the aircraft – the pilot plus eight individuals," said L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

Bryant is one of the most successful basketball players of all time having won five NBA championships with LA Lakers, appeared in 18 All-Star games and scoring 33,643 points before retiring in 2016.

Bryant was also named NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and the MVP in two NBA Finals. He also won two gold medals for the USA at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. 

Kobe and Gianna are survived by his wife Vanessa and their three other daughters - Natalia, Bianca and Capri, who was born last summer.