A skydiver tragically lost his life during a wingsuit jump near Exeter over the weekend, and has been identified as Chas McNeil. The incident occurred at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, in Honiton, just before 1pm on Saturday. Chas, aged 49 and from Swindon, was described as highly experienced, having completed 10,000 jumps.

Numerous heartfelt tributes for Chas have been pouring in on social media platforms, with veterans’ charity Phoenix Heroes also expressing their condolences. The charity highlighted Chas’ significant contributions to their community and his passion for skydiving and angling.

A fundraising campaign on GoFundMe has been initiated to support the McNeil family in honoring Chas’ memory, aiming to raise £1.8K. The campaign emphasized Chas’ positive impact on those who knew him and his leadership qualities.

The recent tragedy adds to the history of unfortunate incidents at the location, including a previous double fatality during a tandem jump. Following the incident, an investigation was launched by the authorities and British Skydiving. Skydive South West, the current operator, emphasized that they have no connection to the former management.

In response to the recent loss, Skydive Southwest expressed deep sadness over the passing of Chas, highlighting his extensive experience and expressing condolences to his family and friends. The club is cooperating with the authorities in the investigation process and urged against speculations that could lead to misinformation.

In times of tragedy, the community is urged to show kindness and support to those affected. The focus remains on assisting the family, staff, and community during this difficult period.