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Aberdeenshire wingsuit jumper remembered after tragic death

Aberdeenshire wingsuit jumper remembered after tragic death

In a statement, Byrne's parents, Mike and Gillian, paid tribute to his "wild energy" and "contagious laugh.'
They told BBC Scotland: "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. Though he has now flown beyond our reach, he will always be with us."
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Residents of Stonehaven, a small town south of Aberdeen where Byrne was from, took to social media to pay homage to the champion jumper.
Janice Lagdon called Byrne 'an amazing lad', while Anne Forrest added: 'So very sad. He was a lovely lad. Condolences to his lovely family.'
Mike Smith noted: 'Absolutely heartbreaking to read this - Thoughts go to all the family and friends through this difficult time and R.I.P Liam - you most certainly lived life to the full following your dreams.'
A spokesperson for the local police force said: "On Saturday June 21 2025, shortly before 12:00, three wingsuit pilots launched a jump from Gitschen at approximately 2,400 metres above sea level toward Seedorf.
"One of the jumpers, a 24-year-old man from Great Britain, deviated from his intended course shortly after take-off for reasons still unknown and crashed into a rocky outcrop at approximately 2,100 metres above sea level. He suffered fatal injuries."
In November, Mr Byrne featured in a BBC documentary, The Boy Who Can Fly, about his journey to becoming a champion skydiver.
The documentary, screened in November last year, showed Byrne and his father, Mike, as he prepared for a wingsuit jump off Mannlichen mountain in Switzerland.​

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