Investigation into death of Scottish wingsuit flyer Liam Byrne in Swiss Alps dropped
Quick Look
- Swiss authorities have discontinued an investigation into the death of British wingsuit champion Liam Byrne, 24, who died during a jump from Gitschen mountain in June last year.
- Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, was an experienced flyer featured in a 2024 BBC documentary.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Liam Byrne was a British champion wingsuit flyer from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, who had featured in a 2024 BBC documentary called The Boy Who Can Fly. He was described as very experienced with thousands of jumps during his career.
An investigation into any potential crime after the death of a Scottish wingsuit flyer during a jump in the Swiss Alps has been dropped.
British champion Liam Byrne, 24, was fatally injured on the Gitschen mountain after taking off from 7,874ft (2,400m) in June last year.
An investigation was launched, but documents from the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office seen by BBC Scotland News show it was decided to discontinue proceedings.
Byrne, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, had 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 of skydiving. It involves wearing a special suit with webbing to allow mid-air lift.
Byrne had completed thousands of jumps during his flying career.
A family statement at the time of his death 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."
Open Questions
- What specific circumstances led to the discontinuation of the investigation by Swiss authorities?
- Were any safety concerns or regulatory issues identified during the initial investigation?
- What official reason did the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office provide for dropping the proceedings?
