Skydive Buzz announces compulsory liquidation six weeks after parachute tragedy that killed mother and instructor
The skydiving company where a mother and her instructor plunged to their deaths has announced it has ceased trading – leaving punters hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
Skydive Buzz Ltd, based at Dunkeswell Airfield near Honiton, Devon, has told customers that the firm is to be put into compulsory liquidation, just six weeks after a catastrophic parachute failure led to two deaths.
The company arranged a tandem parachute jump which went tragically wrong on Friday 13 June, leading to the deaths of Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, and her instructor Adam Harrison, 30, from Bournemouth. The pair died in a field after their parachutes failed to open during a 15,000ft jump.
Sudden Closure Announcement
In recent weeks the company had stopped answering calls and customers said bookings had been cancelled without explanation. Now Skydive Buzz has sent an email to those customers informing them of its decision to cease operations.
The letter, sent out on Thursday 24 July, states: “It is with regret that the directors have been required to make the difficult decision to cease operations with immediate effect. It is proposed that the company be placed into compulsory liquidation in due course.”
The email continues: “The Official Receiver should be in contact with creditors and customers to provide an update regarding the closure of the company and the proposed liquidation proceedings.”
The company stressed that the closure was due to financial reasons alone, though a number of jobs will be lost. The firm has not specified how many employees will be affected.
Customers Left Out of Pocket
One customer told reporters she is currently £550 out of pocket after paying for three skydives. “We have contacted the voucher company that we got them from and because it’s been over two years since we bought the vouchers (because our skydives have been cancelled three times now since 2023) we won’t be getting our money back apparently,” she said.
“I have always found them very helpful when the skydives have been cancelled. They have always been very accommodating so it’s very frustrating to find out that this is basically now just lost money.”
Another customer explained: “We were due to skydive Sunday 6 July but it was cancelled due to weather. They sent us a link to re-book but they had nothing else available the week we were in Devon. We emailed them twice whilst we were there but no reply. Also tried calling once home.”
The customer added: “Then I checked the website and Facebook page and noticed it was no longer there. Luckily we booked through Virgin who have offered vouchers or a refund so money wise we are ok.”
Charity Fundraisers Affected
Other customers include Marie Neal, who was due to jump earlier this month having raised thousands of pounds for St Luke’s Hospice in memory of her dad who was struck down with Hodgkin’s Disease and died aged 57.
Prior to receiving the email from the company, she said: “I have a lot of people that have sponsored me and St Luke’s are waiting for their money but Buzz Skydiving seems to have disappeared.”
Advice for Affected Customers
In its email, the company offered advice to those with vouchers, stating: “It is advisable to contact the voucher company in the first instance (i.e. Virgin, Red Letter Days, Into the Blue, etc) to progress potential refunds.”
The email added: “Customers paying by credit card may be entitled to a refund through Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, subject to certain conditions. Customers paying by debit card may be able to request a chargeback through their bank, subject to certain conditions.”
The company concluded: “We would like to thank our staff, customers and all involved with Sky Dive Buzz for their support over the years and apologise again that we have been left with little other option but to close.”
Fatal Parachute Tragedy
The closure comes six weeks after the tragic deaths of Belinda Taylor and Adam Harrison. Emergency services were called to Dunkeswell Aerodrome at around 1pm on Friday 13 June following concerns for the welfare of two individuals.
Inquests have been opened into their deaths, with senior Devon coroner Phillips Spinney confirming that the pair exited the aircraft and began the freefall, but the parachute did not open as expected and they died of injuries sustained in the fall.
Belinda’s partner Scott Armstrong spoke of his heartbreak after she died. Scott had bought Belinda the skydive as a “thank you” present, he said, after she let his nine-year-old son move into their home. Belinda had never jumped from an aircraft before, but was described as an adrenaline junkie who would try anything once.
Adam Harrison, the instructor, had worked as a self-employed instructor for Skydive Buzz for nearly four years, having previously qualified with GoSkyDive. He was also training to be a chiropractor at the AECC University College in Bournemouth.
Ongoing Investigation
A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry is investigating the incident. Once complete, a report will be submitted to the coroner, the police, the Civil Aviation Authority, the British Skydiving Safety & Training Committee and any other relevant authorities.
The investigation is expected to take several months, examining why both the main and reserve parachutes failed to deploy properly during the tandem jump.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Skydive Buzz had initially announced its intention to continue operations and was cleared to resume jumps following preliminary safety checks. However, the company has now cited financial reasons for its closure.
The company had been operating at Dunkeswell Airfield since 1999, offering tandem skydives, parachute training and experienced jumper facilities at the historic airfield, which has a proud tradition of sport parachuting dating back to 1964.
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