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| Liam Byrne: Scottish wingsuit flyer dies during Swiss Alps jump | Liam Byrne: Scottish wingsuit flyer dies during Swiss Alps jump |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Liam Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, was featured jumping from a mountain top in a recent BBC documentary called "The Boy Who Can Fly" | Liam Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, was featured jumping from a mountain top in a recent BBC documentary called "The Boy Who Can Fly" |
| A Scottish wingsuit flyer has died during a jump in the Swiss Alps. | A Scottish wingsuit flyer has died during a jump in the Swiss Alps. |
| British champion Liam Byrne, 24, was critically injured on the Gitschen mountain on Saturday after taking off from 7,874ft (2,400m). | British champion Liam Byrne, 24, was critically injured on the Gitschen mountain on Saturday after taking off from 7,874ft (2,400m). |
| Mr Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, featured in a recent BBC documentary called The Boy Who Can Fly. | Mr Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, featured in a recent BBC documentary called The Boy Who Can Fly. |
| He was described as a very experienced wingsuit flyer - which is a type skydiving which involves wearing a special suit with webbing to allow mid-air lift - and had completed thousands of jumps during his career. | He was described as a very experienced wingsuit flyer - which is a type skydiving which involves wearing a special suit with webbing to allow mid-air lift - and had completed thousands of jumps during his career. |
| The wingsuit flyer had told the documentary: "I think I was about 13 when I said to my dad that I wanted to learn to fly like a bird." | |
| Liam Byrne completed thousands of jumps during his career | Liam Byrne completed thousands of jumps during his career |
| He added: "Even at school I would stare out the window at the seagulls flying and always feeling that sense of envy that they have that freedom to just take off and fly away. | |
| "I do wonder why I love flying so much? Maybe my brain is wired differently to other people's, maybe I deal with fear differently. | |
| "But I know myself well enough to know that an office job scares me far more than the fear of dying from a base jump or wingsuit flight." | |
| His parents, Mike and Gillian, confirmed to BBC Scotland News that their son had died. | His parents, Mike and Gillian, confirmed to BBC Scotland News that their son had 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 said. | "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 said. |
| Liam Byrne's family paid tribute to his life | |
| "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. | "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." | "Skydiving and base jumping was more than just a thrill for Liam - it was freedom. It was where he felt most alive." |
| The Gitschen mountain was the scene of Mr Byrne's death | |
| The 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. | The 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. | "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." | "Though he has now flown beyond our reach, he will always be with us." |
| The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it was supporting the family of a British man who died in Switzerland. | The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it was supporting the family of a British man who died in Switzerland. |