Very very sad news if true. If it is a consolation, he was doing what he loved most in the world.
I first met Col doing what most pilots do at the end of a long day, two blokes in an empty hotel bar having a quiet one before dinner. I had heard all of the legends but was unprepared for this very self effacing and humble guy, no big watch and big ego, just crisp casual shirt, moleys and boots. In fact we had been idle chit chatting for some time before I made the connection. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. He gave a lot of people in aviation a huge amount of pleasure.