Liam Bryne Put to Rest With More Than 4,000 Jumps Under His Belt

24-year-old skydiving instructor and wingsuit flier Liam Bryne was killed in a Swiss Alps base jump on June 21. He logged his first jump at 16 and, since then, has accumulated over 4,000 more.

According to Swiss authorities, the accident occurred shortly after Byrne and two others launched from Gitschen mountain in the canton of Uri. The group jumped from a ledge at approximately 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) above sea level.

Byrne reportedly deviated from his planned flight path, causing him to strike a rocky outcrop at 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) and suffer fatal injuries. Emergency services confirmed his death at the scene. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland and the Cantonal Police of Uri have opened an investigation.

Byrne began skydiving at the age of 16 and became known as a wingsuit coach, camera flyer, and British champion in the sport. In 2024, his accomplishments earned him a feature in the documentary The Boy Who Can Fly.

"I think I was about 13 when I said to my dad that I wanted to learn to fly like a bird,” Byrne told cameras. "Even at school I would stare out the window at the seagulls flying and always feeling that sense of envy that they have that freedom to just take off and fly away.”

Byrne’s mother and father, Gillian and Mike, confirmed his passing in a statement, calling him “fearless” and “a source of laughter and strength.”

"We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it,” they stated. “Liam was fearless, not necessarily because he wasn't afraid but because he refused to let fear hold him back. He chased life in a way that most of us only dream of and he soared…Though he has now flown beyond our reach, he will always be with us."

The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing support to Byrne’s family. Swiss authorities are continuing their investigation into the accident.

FMI: www.bazl.admin.ch