UK woman died with skydiving instructor after parachute ‘failed to open’

Belinda Taylor was one of two people who died in a skydiving accident in Devon. Photo / Supplied

A UK mother-of-four killed with her skydiving instructor after their parachute failed to open had been given the jump as a gift.

Tandem jumpers Belinda Taylor and Adam Harrison fell 4570m to their deaths on Saturday at Dunkeswell Airfield, near Honiton, Devon, England.

Fellow plane passengers said the pair’s parachute and reserve parachute failed to open and both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Tributes have poured in for Taylor, 48, including from her partner, Scott Armstrong.

“I miss you so much, you were my best friend,” he posted on social media.

“Thank you for everything you [have] done for me, [from] making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess.

“I’m so lost without you. I feel so lost, I don’t know where home is without you.”

He told the Mirror he had bought the skydive as a present for his “adrenaline junkie” girlfriend.

Armstrong added he was watching the jump with binoculars when he saw one of the jumpers did not have their parachute open.

Taylor was the mother-of-three adult boys and one teenage girl as well as grandmother to two children.

Connor Bowles, her eldest son, paid tribute to her and told DevonLive: “On Friday, June 13, our family lost our mum Belinda Taylor.

“She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones. She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.”

Harrison had worked as a skydiving instructor since September 2020, according to his LinkedIn account. He was also training as a chiropractor student.

A passenger who jumped from the same plane as the victims but wished to remain anonymous, told the Telegraph: “They were both lovely bright people you could tell that from being in the plane.

“They were full of smiles and jokes and were both obviously excited for this experience. They continued to joke and laugh the entire flight up to 15,000ft.”

Another said Taylor had been in high spirits before the fatal jump, and had been making small talk with other skydivers about their upcoming jump.

The incident is being investigated by the British Skydiving Board of Inquiry.

A spokesman from Devon and Cornwall Police said: “The skydivers were sadly both confirmed deceased at the scene. Scene guards remain in place and inquiries are ongoing by the relevant agencies.”