Partner of woman killed in tragic skydive ‘bought her jump as gift' before ‘watching with son as she fell to death'
The partner of a mum-of-four killed in a tragic skydive jump has revealed he bought her the experience as a gift to say thank you.
Emergency services rushed to Dunkeswell Airfield, near Honiton, Devon in the UK on Friday where Belinda Taylor and her skydiving instructor were both tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Belinda, 48, died instantly when she fell 4572 metres after her parachute failed to open.
Her partner Scott Armstrong discovered her body strapped to that of her instructor on the landing strip and said they were both 'clearly dead'.
Mr Armstrong bought the tandem jump as a gift for his 'adrenaline junkie' girlfriend.
The devastated dad told the Mirror: 'Belinda was my absolute world. She was so kind and giving and would do anything for anyone.
'My nine-year-old son recently came to live with us and she welcomed him with open arms and was brilliant.
'As a thank you present I decided to buy her the tandem skydive. She was absolutely buzzing about it.'
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the skydivers' families had been informed and a probe into the incident was underway.
A skydiver who jumped moments after Belinda saw the tragedy unfold from above.
The person, who did not wish to be named, told The Sun they saw the parachute fail.
They also saw Mr Armstrong climb into his car in a bid to try to save Belinda.
They added: 'Belinda jumped out, all the safety checks were done, all the parachute checks, the handles and goggles were pulled.'
The seasoned jumper said they finished the dive 'quicker than usual' after spotting the 'commotion' on the ground.
The diver was then told to get away from the airfield as quickly as possible, but saw Mr Armstrong attempting to find Belinda.
They added: 'Her partner jumped in his car to get to the other airfield to see what was going on.
'They weren't providing updates to the partner.
'He found out for himself when he saw the bodies.
'He could do nothing to save her.
'Everyone was visibly upset and distressed.'
Heartfelt tributes poured in for the mum-of-four and her instructor.
Belinda, who lived not far from the field, had three adult sons and a teenage daughter and was also a grandmother of two.
Her eldest son Connor Bowles told DevonLive: 'On Friday, June 13, our family lost our mum Belinda Taylor.
'She was a mother of four children, three adult boys and one teenage girl, and a grandmother to two young children.
'She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones.
'She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.
'We as a family would like to ask for peace and privacy during this time while we grieve our loss and remember our mum as we should do.'
TRAGEDY PROBE
British Skydiving Chief executive Robert Gibson confirmed a probe had been launched and his organisation was assisting authorities.
In a statement he said: 'Today British Skydiving has been notified of a tragic accident in which two jumpers lost their lives.
'Our deepest condolences go to their families, friends and the entire skydiving community.
'A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will investigate the accident.
'Once complete, a report will be submitted to the coroner, the police, the CAA, the British Skydiving Safety & Training Committee (STC) and any other relevant authorities.
'No further details will be provided at this time.
'We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected at this difficult time.'
Local charity Devon in Sight said it had suspended its upcoming skydiving events while the investigation was ongoing.
CEO Grahame Flynn said: 'Having undertaken two skydive challenges in 2018 and 2022 I know how meticulous the team at Skydive Buzz are in their training.
'In view of this tragic news our events planned for Saturday 21st June, Wednesday 25th June and Saturday 5th July are suspended pending investigation.
'Our Jump for Sight Challenges have raised significant funds for our work over the years.
'At this time our thoughts are with the instructor and student who lost their lives and their families, friends and colleagues.'
Cops have asked anyone with information on the tragedy to get in touch.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- News.com.au
Partner of woman killed in tragic skydive ‘bought her jump as gift' before ‘watching with son as she fell to death'
The partner of a mum-of-four killed in a tragic skydive jump has revealed he bought her the experience as a gift to say thank you. Emergency services rushed to Dunkeswell Airfield, near Honiton, Devon in the UK on Friday where Belinda Taylor and her skydiving instructor were both tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Belinda, 48, died instantly when she fell 4572 metres after her parachute failed to open. Her partner Scott Armstrong discovered her body strapped to that of her instructor on the landing strip and said they were both 'clearly dead'. Mr Armstrong bought the tandem jump as a gift for his 'adrenaline junkie' girlfriend. The devastated dad told the Mirror: 'Belinda was my absolute world. She was so kind and giving and would do anything for anyone. 'My nine-year-old son recently came to live with us and she welcomed him with open arms and was brilliant. 'As a thank you present I decided to buy her the tandem skydive. She was absolutely buzzing about it.' Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the skydivers' families had been informed and a probe into the incident was underway. A skydiver who jumped moments after Belinda saw the tragedy unfold from above. The person, who did not wish to be named, told The Sun they saw the parachute fail. They also saw Mr Armstrong climb into his car in a bid to try to save Belinda. They added: 'Belinda jumped out, all the safety checks were done, all the parachute checks, the handles and goggles were pulled.' The seasoned jumper said they finished the dive 'quicker than usual' after spotting the 'commotion' on the ground. The diver was then told to get away from the airfield as quickly as possible, but saw Mr Armstrong attempting to find Belinda. They added: 'Her partner jumped in his car to get to the other airfield to see what was going on. 'They weren't providing updates to the partner. 'He found out for himself when he saw the bodies. 'He could do nothing to save her. 'Everyone was visibly upset and distressed.' Heartfelt tributes poured in for the mum-of-four and her instructor. Belinda, who lived not far from the field, had three adult sons and a teenage daughter and was also a grandmother of two. Her eldest son Connor Bowles told DevonLive: 'On Friday, June 13, our family lost our mum Belinda Taylor. 'She was a mother of four children, three adult boys and one teenage girl, and a grandmother to two young children. 'She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones. 'She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life. 'We as a family would like to ask for peace and privacy during this time while we grieve our loss and remember our mum as we should do.' TRAGEDY PROBE British Skydiving Chief executive Robert Gibson confirmed a probe had been launched and his organisation was assisting authorities. In a statement he said: 'Today British Skydiving has been notified of a tragic accident in which two jumpers lost their lives. 'Our deepest condolences go to their families, friends and the entire skydiving community. 'A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will investigate the accident. 'Once complete, a report will be submitted to the coroner, the police, the CAA, the British Skydiving Safety & Training Committee (STC) and any other relevant authorities. 'No further details will be provided at this time. 'We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected at this difficult time.' Local charity Devon in Sight said it had suspended its upcoming skydiving events while the investigation was ongoing. CEO Grahame Flynn said: 'Having undertaken two skydive challenges in 2018 and 2022 I know how meticulous the team at Skydive Buzz are in their training. 'In view of this tragic news our events planned for Saturday 21st June, Wednesday 25th June and Saturday 5th July are suspended pending investigation. 'Our Jump for Sight Challenges have raised significant funds for our work over the years. 'At this time our thoughts are with the instructor and student who lost their lives and their families, friends and colleagues.' Cops have asked anyone with information on the tragedy to get in touch.
SBS Australia
11 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Manhunt underway for gunman who killed Minnesota Democratic leader
It's been described as a dark day for democracy. Minnesota is in mourning, and on high alert, as police and federal agents hunt for a gunman accused of killing Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelte, allegedly posed as a police officer to carry out what officials are calling a politically motivated assassination. He is also a suspect in the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the state has lost a leader and a friend. "We're here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota. My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination. Our state lost a great leader and I lost a dearest of friends. Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor, and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant. A fixture and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many." Authorities say the attacks took place in the early hours of Saturday local time. Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot multiple times at their home in Champlin. Just over an hour later, officers checking on Speaker Hortman encountered the gunman in Brooklyn Park. A shootout followed, but the suspect fled on foot. Drew Evans from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety details the timeline of the shootings and police response. 'In the city of Champlin, where there was an individual that had shot Senator Hoffman and his wife. Police responded to that location, they were dealing with that, and working through that process overnight. And then later on at approximately 3:35, that another call came in when it was officers proactively checking because they knew of the incident that occurred, and they were going to check on Speaker Hortman at that time. At which time Brooklyn Park police officers encountered an individual, who immediately fired at them and they exchanged gunfire. And then the individual was able to escape, during that exchange of gunfire." Boelter was reportedly dressed as a police officer. Law enforcement say he also altered a vehicle to resemble a patrol car and used the disguise to gain access to the homes of his victims. Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson says Boelter's actions were a betrayal of public trust. "This is a dark day today for Minnesota and for democracy, but we will not allow fear or violence to define who we are or how we move forward. We will stand together and we will stand strong.. ...The suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms that our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honour and responsibility." Authorities later discovered Boelter's car in rural Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis. Inside, they found what police chief Mark Bruley described as a manifesto naming other politicians and officials. Chief Bruley confirms the car was used by the suspect and reveals its contents. "What I will tell you, when we did a search of the vehicle there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state, who took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary." The discovery of that car triggered an emergency alert to locals in Faxon Township. Officers armed with rifles and accompanied by sniffer dogs scoured surrounding fields and wooded areas. Ben Wagner lives nearby and told reporters he was shaken by the sudden police presence. He describes the tension and surprise in his rural neighbourhood. "I feel safe. I'm not too worried about it. I mean, obviously, it's concerning but there's a huge police presence and I feel protected. Scary, but in the same sense, I'm not too scared. ... "I haven't heard anything really. Just from Facebook and other alerts, just finding out that it's happening here. So that was kind of weird to see your street name being named, but haven't heard anything, haven't seen anything. I can see the car from here but, other than that, nothing." The FBI has now offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Boelter's arrest. Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar says the suspect is likely still in the Midwest and may be dangerous. "We believe he's somewhere in the vicinity and that they are going to find him. But right now, everyone's on edge here, because we know that this man will kill at a second." Residents are urged to stay alert and report any sightings. Tributes now cover the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, with flowers, messages, and a photo of Melissa and Mark Hortman. One note reads: You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in power. Leaders including Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Mike Johnson have condemned the attack, calling for an end to political violence and warning that democracy cannot survive when disagreement leads to bloodshed.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
UK appoints Blaise Metreweli first woman head of MI6 spy service
The UK government has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the first-ever woman to head its MI6 spy service as the country faces "threats on an unprecedented scale", Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday. The MI6 Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) achieved global fame through Ian Fleming's fictional agent James Bond. Metreweli will be the 18th head of the service, Starmer's Downing Street office said in a statement. "The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Starmer said. "The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale -- be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services," he added. The MI6 chief is the only publicly named member of the organisation and reports directly to the foreign minister. The person in the post is referred to as "C" -- not "M" as in the James Bond franchise, which already had a woman, played by Judi Dench, in the role. Metreweli will take over from outgoing MI6 head Richard Moore in the autumn. Currently, she is MI6's director general -- known as "Q" -- with responsiblity for technology and innovation at the service, the statement said. She is described as a career intelligence officer who joined the service in 1999 having studied anthropology at Cambridge University. Metreweli held senior roles at both MI6 and the MI5 domestic intelligence service and spent most of her career in "operational roles in the Middle East and Europe", the statement added, without giving further biographical details. The appointment comes over three decades after MI5 appointed its first female chief. Stella Rimington held the position from 1992-1996, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002-2007. The UK intelligence and security organisation GCHQ appointed its first woman chief, Anne Keast-Butler, in 2023.
