
A devastating skydiving accident that claimed the life of a mother-of-three has been ruled the result of a 'catastrophic failure' by instructors who failed to properly secure her harness.
Belinda Taylor, 44, plummeted an estimated 3,500 feet to her death during a tandem jump at Skydive Academy in Peterlee, County Durham, in July 2022. A recent inquest concluded her death was caused by 'gross negligence' after a series of unforgivable errors.
A Fatal Sequence of Errors
Coroner Janine Lacy heard harrowing evidence that Ms. Taylor's harness was not correctly attached to that of her instructor, Lewis Shaw. Shockingly, neither Mr. Shaw nor a second instructor performing equipment checks noticed the critical fault before the jump.
As they exited the aircraft, the pair immediately separated. While Mr. Shaw's parachute deployed correctly, Ms. Taylor, who was not physically connected to him, fell uncontrollably. The inquest was told there was 'nothing she could do' to save herself.
'Gross Negligence' and Missed Opportunities
The investigation pinpointed a 'complete and abject failure' in the checking procedure. The coroner highlighted that a simple tug on the straps—a fundamental safety step—would have revealed the loose harness, but this was omitted.
Ms. Taylor's family paid emotional tribute to a 'wonderful, kind, and thoughtful daughter, sister, and mother,' whose life was cut short by preventable mistakes. The skydiving centre, which has since had its licence suspended, expressed its deepest condolences but the ruling places responsibility squarely on the instructors' actions.