Avram Grant, the former Chelsea manager, has emerged unharmed after a light aircraft crashed on a runway close to where he was standing.

Grant, who was in Nambia doing charity work, was on the tarmac with his wife Zofit and their two children waiting to board the plane after a private tour to the capital Windhoek. As it approached the plane failed to activate its landing undercarriage and crashed into trees 10 metres away from Grant and his family.

Phil Hall, who represents the 52-year-old Israeli, confirmed that it was a close call for Grant and his family but they had come away unscathed.

"I've spoken to Avram and he's alive - although he is naturally quite shaken with the crash being so close to where he was standing," he said.

"The undercarriage of the plane was completely crushed after it smashed into nearby trees and somehow the pilot - who suffered minor injuries - was able to get out.

"There had been some reports that he had been killed but I can assure everyone that he is in fact alive but still in a bit of shock after the event."