Coal billionaire Chris Cline who once dated Tiger Woods' ex Elin Nordegren dies in helicopter crash off Bahamas coast along with 6 others
Billionaire and coal magnate West Virginia Christopher Cline and founder of Foresight Energy, has died in a tragic helicopter crash. The tycoon died a day before his 61st birthday. The helicopter carrying seven Americans to Fort Lauderdale, Florida crashed Thursday off Grand Cay island in the Bahamas, killing everyone on aboard, Bahamian police said.
Cline was traveling from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale when his helicopter reportedly crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, the Register-Herald reported.
The coal business magnate had famously dated Swedish model Elin Nordegren, who was previously married to golfer Tiger Woods. Nordegren, who is now expecting a child with former NFL star Jordan Cameron had dated Cline back in 2011. The two had been neighbors. The romance is said to have lasted for a couple of years and they were rumored to have split up in 2014 but were seen kissing in 2016. Nordegren and Cline maintained a low profile and did not speak out publicly about their relationship.
Cline's daughter Kamie Conover, was also among those who died in the crash. The businessman's death was confirmed by West Virginia's Governor Jim Justice on Twitter.
"Today we lost a WV superstar and I lost a very close friend," Justice wrote in a tweet and paid his tributes to the businessman, "Our families go back to the beginning of the Cline empire - Pioneer Fuel." He added that Cline had built an empire and "on every occasion was always there to give." He called him a "wonderful, loving, and giving man".
Cline's daughter, David Jude, Delaney Wykle, two unidentified friends, and a helicopter mechanic from Florida were also said to be onboard the chopper. Cline was estimated to have a net worth of $1.8 billion. He had been married twice and had two sons and two daughters.
The Nassau Guardian reported that the helicopter reportedly crashed near Walker’s Cay, Abaco on Thursday morning, according to Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar. “Initial reports are coming in that a helicopter departed, I think it’s a cay near to Walker’s Cay, at 2 a.m. and I guess shortly after takeoff it crashed,” D’Aguilar said.
Beckey mayor Rob Rappold said, "Words can't express the absolute sorrow and disbelief. Southern West Virginia was Chris' love and his legacy of compassion and giving back will last forever."