Businessman and TV host Zef Eisenberg has died while attempting to break a British land speed record at an airfield in the UK, police have confirmed.
The founder of health supplement firm Maximuscle, Eisenberg was driving a Porsche 911 Turbo S car at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, northern England, when he lost control of the vehicle.
The 47-year-old had been involved in several previous high-speed drives and set dozens of speed records on bikes, cars and quad bikes, national governing body UK Motorsport said after his death.
North Yorkshire Police said on Friday that they were called to the scene shortly after 4:30 p.m. the previous day.
“The incident occurred during a British Land Speed record attempt and the driver, 47 year-old Zef Eisenberg tragically died at the scene,” police said.
Elvington Airfield is a popular site for high-speed driving attempts, but it has also been the scene of a number of notable accidents.
Eisenberg was involved in a dangerous crash at the airfield in 2016, while 10 years earlier former “Top Gear” presenter Richard Hammond suffered a near-fatal accident while driving at over 300 miles per hour at Elvington, leaving him with damage to his brain.
Motorsport UK said in a statement Friday that it was “deeply saddened” and would investigate the cause of the accident.
“Zef, aged 47, was a Guernsey-based businessman, television presenter, and a much-loved member of the motorsport community. An ultra-speed motorbike racer, he achieved numerous land speed records for motorbike and car,” the group said.
“Over the past decade, Zef amassed over 70 British, World, UKTA, ACU and Guinness speed records with bikes, cars, and quads. In May 2019, he received the Simms Medal in honour of his outstanding contribution to motoring innovation by the Royal Automobile Club.
“Zef leaves behind his partner Mirella D’Antonio and two children,” added the Motorsport UK statement.
He also earned a world record in 2015 for reaching speeds of 225 mph on a turbine-powered motorbike.
It was widely reported that Eisenberg had been attempting to break the British land speed record for a vehicle — 207.6mph — that was set by racer Tony Densham in 1970.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.