Born in Nottingham, Barnes was educated at the independent Oakham School in Rutland, before attending the University of Derby to study business and marketing.
During that time he provided traffic and travel news for the Newcastle-based radio station Metro FM, and piloted aircraft for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
During his career he was also employed by the organisers of the 2012 Summer Olympics, and played roles in monitoring both the America’s Cup yachting race and the F1 Powerboat World Championship.
[2] Shortly before 08:00 GMT on 16 January 2013, Barnes was killed after the Agusta AW109 he was piloting was in collision with the jib of a construction crane attached to St George Wharf Tower in Vauxhall, central London.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch announced an inquiry into the incident, while David Cameron said there would be a review into the rules governing helicopter flights over central London.