Horrific scenes of an enormous fireball engulfing vehicles and terrified spectators running for their lives emerged and witnesses described the aftermath of the crash at the Shoreham Airshow as “like a bomb exploding”.
Police have said all eleven victims have now been formally identified and their families informed.
Those that have lost their lives include personal trainer and part-time construction worker Matt Jones, 24; Worthing United football players Jacob Schilt, 23, and Matthew Grimstone, also 23; limousine driver Maurice Abrahams, 76; dad-of-one Daniele Polito, 23, grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, motorcylcist Mark Trussler, 54, health worker Tony Brightwell, 53, and cyclists Dylan Archer, 42, and Richard Smith, 26.
Understandably, Daniele’s devastated mother Leslye Polito, 63, is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy and tells Closer there's an added pain of knowing her son was only involved in the accident because in a twist of fate he was let out of work early.
Speaking exclusively to Closer she says: "I'm still in shock and can't believe what's happened.
"Daniele had gone to his job as a construction worker and was due to finish at 4pm.
"He worked with Matt Jones and they let them go home early. I can't believe a simple favour cost him his life.
"When I heard about the crash I wasn't worried at first because I thought he'd still be at work.
"Then I started getting calls from work colleagues asking if he was OK. It wasn't until late in the evening we realised he'd been involved. I felt sick.
"Since we heard about the crash our family has been through every emotion – from anger to frustration, sadness and laughing at the good times.
"The last time I saw him the night before he said "Bye, I love you".
"I had no idea it would be the last time. It’s still surreal. We’ve been to the crash site and that’s made me feel closer to him."
To read more of Leslye's heartbreaking story, get your copy of Closer magazine - out now.