Kobe Bryant's body among four identified in helicopter crash

Kobe Bryant's body has been identified following the helicopter crash that killed the Los Angeles Lakers great, his daughter and seven others on Sunday.

Five NBA championships, 18 All-Star appearances, All-NBA First Team honours on 11 occasions and nine All-Defensive First Team selections – Bryant's staggering career spanned 20 years and was spent solely with the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant's body has been identified following the helicopter crash that killed the Los Angeles Lakers great, his daughter and seven others on Sunday.

Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine killed after the crash in Calabasas, California.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed on Tuesday that Bryant's one of four bodies identified.

"Through the use of fingerprints, investigators identified three men and one woman who were on the aircraft," a brief statement read.

READ | Remembering Black Mamba: How Kobe Bryant became an NBA legend

John Altobelli, Sarah Chester and Ara Zobayan were the other bodies identified by officials.

"Investigators are still working on identifying the five remaining decedents," the statement continued.

"The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner will provide immediate updates on the names of the decedents as soon as they are officially verified and their next of kin have been notified."

An 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time championship winner, Bryant has been honoured across the world in the wake of his sudden death.