Man, 49, dies taking part in skydive at airfield

A man has died while taking part in a skydive at an airfield in Devon.

Police said officers were called to Dunkeswell Aerodrome, near Honiton, at about 13:00 GMT on Saturday, after concerns for the welfare of a male skydiver.

The force said emergency services attended the scene, where a 49-year-old man was confirmed dead.

Officers remain at the scene and inquiries are said to be ongoing into what happened.

The incident comes less than a year after two people died while taking part in a tandem jump at the same airfield.

Skydiving instructor Adam Harrison, 30, and Belinda Taylor, 48, who was strapped to him, died when their parachute failed to open at Dunkeswell on 13 June 2025.

The skydiving company that organised the tandem jump later went into administration.

Harrison, from Bournemouth, and Taylor, from Totnes, Devon, suffered multiple injuries after their skydive from 15,000ft (4.6km).

In a statement about Saturday's death, Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called to Dunkeswell Aerodrome just before 1pm today, Saturday 28 February, following concerns for the welfare of a male skydiver.

"Emergency services attended the scene, where sadly a 49-year-old man was confirmed deceased. His family have been informed."

The Dunkeswell Aerodrome is a former RAF site located in the Blackdown Hills area of Devon, close to the county's border with Somerset.

According to the aerodrome's website, the site was originally built to be an US naval base during World War Two.

It is also claimed to be the highest licensed airfield in the UK at 839ft (256m) above sea level.

Along with skydiving, other activities on offer include Spitfire flight tours, wing-walking and flight training for aircraft.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.