Russell Tapp

Russell Tapp was born in Brisbane, Australia, one of three children born to Englishman Russell Brooke Tapp, a noted pilot for Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways, and his wife Janet McDowall. He attended Tonbridge School in Kent, England from 1957 to 1961 before working as a chartered accountant in Surrey in the 1970s. In 1976, Tapp was a member of the British Olympic luge team and competed in the doubles in Innsbruck with Dick Liversedge. He suffered a knee injury in their first run when they came off at the ninth bend, however, the pair eventually completed the course, though were not given a time. Tapp was later treated at a hospital for his injuries.

Returning to Australia in the 1970s, Tapp settled in Queensland with his wife Jean and continued in his profession as an accountant. He held a private pilot’s license following after his father, and competed in the 1988 CSR Hinkler Bicentennial Air Race. Also an avid yachtsman, Tapp was killed in a yachting accident aboard the Malaika off the coast of Portimão, Portugal on 7 January 2010 after the five-member crew was caught in high winds which ended up pushing him overboard. His body was recovered by a Portuguese Navy helicopter search team in the early hours of the next day.