Latest news with #Gitschen
Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Telegraph
Parents pay tribute to ‘fearless' wingsuit flyer after Swiss Alps death
The parents of a Scottish wingsuit flyer who died during a jump in the Swiss Alps have paid tribute to their 'fearless' son. Liam Byrne, 24, was critically injured on Saturday while attempting a skydive from the 2,500-metre Gitschen mountain. The British champion, from Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, was an experienced wingsuit flyer – a type of skydiving that involves wearing a special suit with webbing to allow mid-air lift – and had completed more than 4,000 jumps during his 10-year career. He previously said that no matter how safe he tried to make the sport, he was aware how much it worried his family. In a statement, his parents, Mike and Gillian Byrne, 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.' Mr Byrne's death is being investigated by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland and the public prosecutor's office of Uri. The Uri Cantonal Police, which has called for witnesses to come forward and assist the investigation, said three wingsuit pilots launched a jump from Gitschen at about 2,400 metres above sea level towards Seedorf. A spokesman added: '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.' Mr Byrne featured in a BBC documentary last year called The Boy Who Can Fly and described how he told his father, a builder and former commando in the British Army, that he 'wanted to fly like a bird' when he was about 13. The BBC documentary featured Mr Byrne's dad, who, in an emotional scene, watched his son take off on a training jump and said: 'I have buried him 10 times already in my head.' 'More than just an adventurer' Mr Byrne told the documentary makers that preparation was key to being safe. 'I've spent the last decade training to increase the skills and decrease any risk. Preparation has always been at the heart of all my challenges. The more I prepare, the more control I have.' Mr Byrne took to extreme sports from a young age. At 12 he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, a peak in Tanzania, Africa, standing at 5,895 metres. That adventure led to dog-sledging through the Arctic, scuba diving and multiple big summit climbs. At 16 he took his first sky dive and by 18 he was pulling on a wingsuit, which he described as a 'second skin, letting me move through the air in a controlled way'. The family statement added: '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 confirmed it was supporting the family of a British man who died in Switzerland.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Wingsuit flyer who died in Swiss Alps remembered as ‘fearless' adventurer
A 24-year-old wingsuit flyer, Liam Byrne, has been remembered as a 'fearless' man with a 'contagious laugh' after his death in the Swiss Alps. The BBC reported that Mr Byrne died on Saturday following a wingsuit crash on the Gitschen mountain. Mr Byrne reportedly took off from an altitude of 7,874ft (2,400 metres) before the incident, according to the BBC. Just last November, Mr Byrne was featured in a BBC documentary titled The Boy Who Can Fly, which chronicled his journey to becoming a champion skydiver. His parents, Mike and Gillian, confirmed their son's death to BBC Scotland News, paying a heartfelt 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 were more than just a thrill for the 24-year-old, the family said. '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 documentary, which screened on 8 November, showed Mr Byrne and his father, Mike, as Mr Byrne prepared for a wingsuit jump off Mannlichen mountain in Switzerland. Speaking in the documentary, Mr Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, said: 'An office job scares me far more than the fear of dying from a base jump or wingsuit flight.' The Foreign Office has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tributes to wingsuit flyer, 24, who died in crash in Swiss Alps
A wingsuit flyer has died during a jump in the Swiss Alps, according to reports. Liam Byrne, 24, died in a fatal crash on the Gitschen mountain in Switzerland, after taking off from 7,874ft (2,400 metres), the BBC reported. 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.' The Uri Cantonal Police called for witnesses to come forward and assist the investigation in 'clarifying the cause of the accident'. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is conducting the investigation alongside the Public Prosecutor's Office of Uri, police added. In November, Mr Byrne featured in a BBC documentary, The Boy Who Can Fly, about his journey to becoming a champion skydiver. 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 documentary screened on November 8 showed Liam and his father, Mike, as Mr Byrne prepared for a wingsuit jump off Mannlichen mountain in Switzerland. Speaking in the documentary, Mr Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, said that 'an office job scares me far more than the fear of dying from a base jump or wingsuit flight'. The Foreign Office has been approached for comment.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS British wingsuit champion featured in BBC documentary is killed during a jump in the Swiss Alps
A British wingsuit flyer who featured in a BBC documentary was killed during a jump in the Swiss Alps, his parents have confirmed. Liam Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, was critically injured on the Gitschen mountain in Switzerland on Saturday. His parents confirmed to BBC Scotland that their 24-year-old son had sadly died. 'We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it,' a family statement read. '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.'
