A SKYDIVER who died at Dunkeswell Airfield on the Blackdown Hills on Saturday (February 28) was a wingsuit flyer who had completed more than 10,000 parachute jumps.

The 49-year-old man was making the jump with a friend and using his own equipment, said Skydive South West, the company which took over parachuting activities at the aerodrome after two people died last year in a tandem skydive which went wrong.

A company spokesperson asked people not to speculate over the cause of the latest tragedy while an investigation was underway

They said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that an experienced licensed skydiver and wingsuit coach with over 10,000 jumps logged, tragically lost their life while carrying out a wingsuit jump with a friend, using his personal parachute equipment and an advanced wingsuit.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with their family, friends, and the wider skydiving community at this incredibly difficult time.

“As a small, family-run drop zone, this loss has affected us profoundly and personally.

“The UK skydiving community is close-knit, and when we lose one of our own, it is felt across the entire community.

“The club, as required by all clubs affiliated to the governing body British Skydiving, followed set procedures by contacting the police and British Skydiving so they could carry out their independent investigation as to the cause of the accident.

“Our staff continue to assist British Skydiving and police, providing all the information they require.

“We would respectfully ask that people refrain from speculation.

“Public conjecture can quickly lead to misinformation being shared, which is deeply distressing for the family, friends, and those directly affected.

“In a world where we can be anything, please choose to be kind.

“Our focus right now is on supporting the family, our staff, and our community as we process this loss.”

British Skydiving confirmed a board of inquiry was being convened to investigate the circumstances of the fatal accident.

A spokesperson said: “Once completed, a full report will be submitted to the coroner, the police, the Civil Aviation Authority, the British Skydiving Safety and Training Committee, and any other relevant authorities.

“The report will include the board’s conclusions and any recommendations, where appropriate.”

The spokesperson also confirmed the dead man was ‘a highly experienced skydiver at Dunkeswell Airfield’.

They said: “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and all those affected at this difficult time.”

There was a large emergency presence at the airfield, near Hemyock, on Saturday following a 999 call shortly before 1 pm.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “Emergency services attended the scene, where, sadly, a 49-year-old man was confirmed deceased.

“His family have been informed.

“Scene guards remain in place currently, and inquiries are ongoing into the incident by the relevant agencies.”

The fatality comes after two people died when their parachute failed to open properly for a 15,000 feet tandem jump last June.

They were mother of four Belinda Taylor, aged 48, from Totnes, and her skydiving instructor Adam Harrison, aged 30, of Bournemouth.

A joint inquiry by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, East Devon District Council environmental health officers, and British Skydiving into the cause of that tragedy is still ongoing.

Skydive Buzz, the company which organised the tandem jump, later ceased trading but did not go into liquidation as sole director Jason Farrant said it would, and instead a sister company, Skydive UK, went into administraton.

Parachuting activities at Dunkeswell were later taken over by Skydive South West, set up by former employees of Skydive Buzz.

♦ Wingsuit flyers use a special jumpsuit with membranes between the arms, legs, and torso to be able to glide through the air at up to 200 mph instead of dropping straight down, before using a parachute to land.