Baseball star Halladay killed in plane crash
A US baseball star has been killed in a plane crash near the coast of Florida.
Award-winning sportsman Roy Halladay, 40, was a former star pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Marine Unit of Pasco Country discovered his body in shallow water near mangroves after his private jet crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, County Sheriff Chris Nocco said.
Authorities are yet to confirm if there were other people on board, but say they are investigating. They have not yet found any survivors.
After retiring from baseball in 2013, Halladay had become a keen pilot, often posting on social media about his adventures in small planes.
Tributes on social media describe him as an inspiration to scores of athletes, as well as a man highly respected for his community work and support for others in the game.
"We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay's untimely death," the Phillies said in a statement.
"There are no words to describe the sadness that the entire Phillies family is feeling over the loss of one of the most respected human beings to ever play the game."
"Heart is broken to hear about Roy Halladay," former teammate Roy Oswalt tweeted.
"Great friend, teammate, father and husband. One of the best teammates ever! You will be missed."
Mr Nocco, who was a friend of Halladay, said the sportsman has been part of a charity fishing trip with the Sheriff's Office just days before the crash.
"He was probably one of the most humble human beings you'll ever meet," Mr Nocco said. "For somebody who won two Cy Youngs (awards), one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, he would walk in the room as if he was anybody.
"Didn't matter who he met, he was kind, generous."
