A 'highly experienced' skydiver and wingsuit coach has died following a jump in Devon. Chas McNeil, 49, from Poole, Dorset, was pronounced dead at Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton on Saturday.
Emergency services were called to the site just before 1pm after concerns for the male skydiver's welfare. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed Mr McNeil was deceased at the scene and that his family had been informed, asking for their privacy to be respected.
Skydive South West, which operates out of the aerodrome, said Mr McNeil was carrying out a wingsuit jump with a friend using his personal parachute equipment and an advanced wingsuit. The centre described him as an experienced licensed skydiver and wingsuit coach with over 10,000 jumps logged.
British Skydiving confirmed a fatal incident occurred and said a Board of Inquiry will be convened to investigate. Enquiries remain ongoing by police, British Skydiving, and East Devon District Council Environmental Health and Safety Office.
The incident follows the deaths of mother-of-four Belinda Taylor, 48, and Adam Harrison, 30, who died while skydiving in the same area in June last year.
