A SCOTTISH wingsuit flyer has reportedly died during a jump in the Alpine region of Switzerland.
Liam Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, was critically injured on the Gitschen mountain on Saturday, BBC Scotland has reported.
The 24-year-old reportedly lost control after jumping from the 7874ft (2400m) Swiss mountain.
Byrne, who was a British champion, was described as a very experienced wingsuit flyer - a type of skydiving which involves wearing a special suit with webbing to allow mid-air lift - and had completed hundreds of jumps during his career.
His parents, Mike and Gillian, confirmed to BBC Scotland News that their son had died, and paid tribute to his “wild energy” and “contagious laugh”.
The Byrne family said: “We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it.
“Liam was fearless, not necessarily because he wasn’t afraid but because he refused to let fear hold him back.
“He chased life in a way that most of us only dream of and he soared.
“Skydiving and base jumping was more than just a thrill for Liam – it was freedom. It was where he felt most alive.
“Liam was more than just an adventurer. He was a son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend. He was a source of laughter and strength.
“He inspired all of us and made life better with his bold spirit and kind heart.
“We will miss Liam’s wild energy and contagious laugh.
“Though he has now flown beyond our reach, he will always be with us.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it was supporting the family of a British man who died in Switzerland.
Police have not yet released the man’s name as they continued to appeal for witnesses to the accident, the Mirror reported.
A police spokesperson said: “On Saturday three wingsuit flyers launched a jump from Mount Gitschen at around 2400 metres above sea level in the direction of Seedorf.
“One of the jumpers, a 24-year-old man from the United Kingdom, deviated from the planned course shortly after take-off for reasons that are still unclear and crashed into a rocky outcrop at approximately 2100 metres above sea level.
“He sustained fatal injuries.”
