TV wildlife enthusiast Johnny Kingdom killed in digger accident

The 79-year-old who came to fame in A Year on Exmoor has died in his beloved Devon

Television wildlife film-maker Johnny Kingdom has died at the age of 79 following an accident on his land involving a digger. Kingdom, who specialised in his local area of Exmoor and north Devon and had appeared extensively on the BBC, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services in a field near Wadham Cross in Knowstone, Devon, following reports confirmed by police that a digger had rolled over on Thursday night.

His family said in a statement: "Unfortunately a legend has been lost. Johnny would want you all to continue with his love for Exmoor as you all meant so much to him. "As the loving man himself would have said: 'Farewell to all you lovely people'. RIP 23/02/39-06/09/18."