Pete Barnes died after his helicopter plunged to the ground. Picture: Max James Tolhurst/PA Wire

The pilot who died after his helicopter clipped a crane before plunging to the ground in Vauxhall had been diverted because of bad weather, an inquest heard today.

Father-of-two Pete Barnes, 50, who died from multiple injuries, had been flying from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey to Elstree in Hertfordshire but was diverted to Battersea heliport due to the bad weather, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard.

His twin-engine AgustaWestland 109 helicopter crashed to the ground in Wandsworth Road last Wednesday.

Police, the fire brigade and the HEMS air ambulance all attended the scene and Mr Barnes was pronounced dead by the HEMS doctor, London Inner South Coroner Andrew Harris heard.

Dr Harris said he would review the case in three months and did not set a date for a future hearing.

The veteran pilot, who had 25 years’ experience, had flown as an air ambulance pilot and in several films during his career including Oscar-winning Saving Private Ryan and Tomb Raider II.

Mr Barnes, from Berkshire, has been described as “a good guy” who was “full of life and great fun”.

He was born in Nottingham on December 9 1962 and was single, the inquest heard.

Pedestrian Matthew Wood, 39, from Sutton, Surrey, was also killed in the tragedy as he walked to work. He died from severe burns and a leg injury, a post-mortem examination revealed last week.

The coroner did not set a date for the opening of the inquest into Mr Wood’s death.