Fatal fall skydive company ceases operations

A notice has been posted at the airfield saying the company faces liquidation

A skydiving company that held a tandem jump in which two people were killed has entered administration.

Sky Dive Buzz, based at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, near Honiton, Devon, told customers in emails on Thursday "directors have been required to make the difficult decision to cease operations with immediate effect". Its website is not working.

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. Investigations by police, the local council and British Skydiving are ongoing.

In a social media post, Dunkeswell Aerodrome said it was aware Sky Dive Buzz would be entering into compulsory liquidation.

Belinda Taylor died in the fall on 13 June

It said: "We would like to reassure all our customers and partners that this does not affect our operations.

"All other airfield activities, such as air experience flights, helicopter flights, and all other activities continue to run as normal."

Mr Harrison, from Bournemouth and Ms Taylor from Totnes, Devon, suffered multiple injuries when their parachute did not open during the tandem skydive from 15,000ft (4.6km) last month, a coroner told an inquest, which was adjourned while investigations are carried out.

Sky Dive Buzz's phone number was not working on Friday and it has been approached for comment by email.

Some customers who had booked jumps with Sky Dive Buzz have expressed disappointment at the sudden closure.

Adam Harrison, 30, was the skydiving instructor who Belinda Taylor was strapped to for the tandem jump

Amy Cann, 47, from Kingsteignton, Devon, had been due to jump at Dunkeswell on Sunday to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice, in south Devon, in memory of her late father-in-law.

However, she received the email on Thursday informing her Sky Dive Buzz had ceased operating.

"I'm just absolutely gutted," she said. "It's poor that we've had no response from anybody.

"I've been trying to ring them for weeks. They could've at least put a voicemail on saying what was happening."

Ms Cann originally booked to jump on 12 July but when Rowcroft Hospice postponed the event, she rescheduled for Sunday.

Amy Cann is gutted at losing her charity skydiving slot

She paid £50 of her own money to secure the booking and began fundraising through a JustGiving page and a collection at her workplace.

"I've raised nearly £1,000, about £500 in cash and the rest online," she said. "I was literally about to pay the rest last week. I'm so glad I didn't."

The skydive was especially meaningful for Ms Cann, who was fundraising in memory of her father-in-law, Roger Cann, who died at Rowcroft Hospice on 13 December.

"They're like angels in disguise," she said of the hospice staff. "Everyone gave money thinking I was going to do this skydive, and now I feel really bad for them," adding she was determined to complete a skydive elsewhere.

Rosie Dawson, from Dawlish, said her niece had been expecting to jump on Wednesday when she got a message on Tuesday that it had been cancelled.

Her niece had collected sponsorship of £1,200 for charity and the booking company confirmed the cancellation.

"We could not believe it because we had no communication from them at all," said Ms Dawson.

"She has been able to transfer her booking to another skydiving company in Wiltshire, so no money has been lost, but to be told the day before is wrong.

"She had been looking forward to this for months and stood by them despite the accident.

"But we are quite relieved now because the lack of communication has not given us any faith in the company."

'Little other option'

An email and notice posted at the airfield says: "It is proposed that the company be placed into compulsory liquidation in due course.

"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.

"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."

The email advises customers with outstanding voucher bookings to contact the voucher company in the first instance.

Customers paying by credit card may be entitled to a refund through Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, subject to certain conditions, it says.

Customers paying by debit card may be able to request a chargeback through their bank, subject to certain conditions, it adds.