Man who died in Dunkeswell skydive was 'highly experienced'

---

Tragedy struck at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon on Saturday when a 49-year-old man lost his life during a wingsuit jump. The deceased was using his own parachuting gear while diving alongside a companion. Skydive South West, the local operation based at the aerodrome, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. They extended their condolences to the man’s loved ones and highlighted the tight-knit nature of the skydiving community, which feels each loss keenly.

The centre confirmed that British Skydiving had been informed of the fatality and that the organization will conduct a board of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the jump. British Skydiving stated that its findings, along with any suggested safety recommendations, would be forwarded to several authorities, including the coroner, police, the Civil Aviation Authority, and its own Safety & Training Committee.

This recent tragedy follows an earlier fatal accident at the same location on 13 June, when skydiving instructor Adam Harrison, 30, and Belinda Taylor, 48, died after their parachute failed to open. The company responsible for organizing that jump subsequently went into administration. The loss has again deeply affected Skydive South West, which described itself as a small, family-run drop zone. They emphasized the profound personal impact of losing one of their own and how such events resonate throughout the community.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers responded to the aerodrome near Honiton around 1 p.m. GMT on Saturday, arriving promptly at the scene. A spokesperson stated that emergency services confirmed the man’s death and that his family had been notified. Dunkeswell Aerodrome itself carries historic significance, having been a former RAF base in the Blackdown Hills. According to its website, the site was originally constructed as a US naval base during the Second World War

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

---