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Tributes are paid to stuntman Mark Sutton

Tributes are paid to stuntman Mark Sutton

TRIBUTES have been paid to British stuntman Mark Sutton who has died following a skydiving accident in Switzerland. He was 42.

Mr. Sutton will be best remembered for his role in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012 when, dressed as James Bond, he parachuted from a helicopter with another stuntman dressed as the Queen (see below).

The former Army officer had been taking part in an event near Martigny, Switzerland, when the accident happened. According to reports he had been using a wingsuit and had jumped from a helicopter intending to land at a village just across the border in France, but died after crashing into rocks.

The Swiss authorities have launched an investigation into the accident.

Mr. Sutton was an experienced wingsuit flyer and had filmed many of his flights (see below).

Among the many tributes to be paid to Mr. Sutton was one from Gary Connery, who had jumped with him at the opening of the Olympics. Mr. Connery said he had lost a close friend who had been “smart, articulate and funny”, adding: “In any sport where you share a common bond you can make friends in a heartbeat that last a lifetime. My relationship with Mark was like that.”

To view footage of Mr. Sutton’s parachute jump at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, click here.

To see a video shot by Mr. Sutton on one of his wingsuit flights, click here.

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