‘Highly experienced’ skydiver with more than 10,000 jumps dies during wingsuit jump at UK airport
An “extremely experienced” skydiver with more than 10,000 jumps under his belt has died during a wingsuit jump at a UK airfield.
Emergency services rushed to Dunkeswell Aerodrome on Saturday afternoon after receiving a call about a diver who was seriously injured while wingsuit jumping with a friend, the BBC reported.
The victim, identified as Chas McNeil, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
Police said “McNeil’s family has been notified” of his death.
Skydive South West, which runs the centre, announced they were “deeply saddened” to confirm the death of the “experienced” and “licensed” skydiver, who had logged “over 10,000 jumps” before his death.
The club said he was “using his parachute equipment and advanced wingsuit” at the time of the disaster.
“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 resort, this loss has affected us deeply and personally,” Skydive South West said.
“The UK skydiving community is close-knit, and when we lose one of our own, it reverberates throughout the community.”
The club said it followed the mandatory procedures by notifying the police and British Skydiving so authorities could carry out an independent investigation into what caused the accident.
British Skydiving confirmed the death of “an experienced skydiver at Dunkeswell Airfield” in a statement posted on X.
“The British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will now be called to investigate the circumstances of the accident,” the agency said.
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and all those affected at this difficult time.”
Dunkeswell Aerodrome was established as a US military base during World War II and later served as a base for the Royal Air Force before being converted to civilian use, according to the BBC.
This incident happened a few weeks ago when a French world champion skydiver was killed when his parachute failed to open while he was jumping from the highest point in Europe.
Pierre Wolnik, two-time freefly world champion, died on Feb. 7 after jumping from a helicopter above the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps and falling for a few seconds when his parachute failed.
The 37-year-old hit a rocky surface, and it took hours for first responders to find his body in Les Bossons. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wolnik, world champion in 2022 and 2024, was a top athlete and was set to represent France at the 2026 World Air Sports Federation Championships this summer.
