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Liam Byrne: Scottish wingsuit flyer dies during Swiss Alps jump Liam Byrne: Wingsuit flyer dies after jump off Gitschen in Swiss Alps
(about 1 hour 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 2024 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 of skydiving which 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.
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." Mr Byrne 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 more than 4,000 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. The skydiving instructor explained: "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."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.""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. My Byrne said no matter how safe he tried to make the sport, he did think about how much it worried his family.
"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. He told the documentary makers that preparation was key to being safe.
Liam Byrne's family paid tribute to his life "I've spent the last decade training to increase the skills and decrease any risk.
"For me I'm about as far as a reckless adrenaline junkie as you can possibly get. Preparation is always been at the heart of all my challenges. The more I prepare, the more control I have."
Extreme sports
Mr Byrne took to extreme sports from a young age. At 12 he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, a peak in Tanzania, African, standing at 5,895 meters (19,341ft) high.
That adventure led to dog-sledging through the Arctic, scuba diving and multiple big summit climbs.
At 16 he did 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".
Liam Byrne's parents Mike and Gillian paid tribute to his life
Mr Byrne's parents, Mike and Gillian, confirmed to BBC Scotland News that their son had died.
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.
"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 deathThe 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."
Filmed in 2019: The teenage wingsuit flyer going for gold
The 2024 BBC documentary featured Mr Byrne's dad, Mike, a builder and former Commando in the British Army.
In on emotional scene, he watches his son take off on a training jump and says "I have buried him 10 times already in my head".
But Mr Byrne Snr goes on to say he knew the joy wingsuit jumping gave Liam.
"He was an amazing kid growing up - anything I suggested he would be up for. I was massively inspired by him. I wish I could be more like him."
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.