Mum-of-four who died in skydiving tragedy was bought the experience as a gift from boyfriend

A mum of four lost her life in a skydiving tragedy in Devon while her partner watched on helplessly. Belinda Taylor and her instructor died instantly after they fell 15,000ft to the ground at an airfield on Friday, June 13.

Her partner, Scott Armstrong, had bought the tandem jump as a thank you present for his “adrenaline junkie” girlfriend. Recounting the harrowing experience to the Mirror, he said: “Belinda was my absolute world. She was so kind and giving and would do anything for anyone.

“My nine-year-old son recently came to live with us and she welcomed him with open arms and was brilliant. As a thank you present I decided to buy her the tandem skydive. She was absolutely buzzing about it.

“The plan was to do a 7,000ft jump, but at the last minute she said she wanted to do a 15,000ft one, so I paid the extra money. They were the last group to go up.

“I was using binoculars and saw them all jump and noticed that one chute hadn’t opened. I was freaking out. They disappeared from view. I jumped in my car with my lad and raced across the fields.

“I found Belinda and the instructor lying there, still together, both clearly dead. It was a horrific sight. I miss her so much. I’m so lost without her. She meant the world to all of us and we’ll never forget her.”, reports the Mirror.

“She was an adrenaline junkie and an adventurer. She’d done kayaking and all sorts.”

Belinda, hailing from Totnes and a mother to three adult sons and a teenage daughter, as well as a grandmother-of-two, tragically died Her eldest son Connor Bowles said: “She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones. She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.

“We as a family would like to ask for peace and privacy during this time whilst we grieve our loss and remember our mum as we should do.

“We would like to thank the police and investigators for the help they have already provided and the support that has been offered by them.”

The incident involved a tandem jump with Skydive Buzz, known for their regular skydiving activities at the Honiton airfield.

The authorities are currently investigating the cause of the event. Following reports concerning two individuals’ welfare at the airfield near Honiton, emergency services rushed to the scene.

Devon and Cornwall Police reported: “It was reported that they were skydivers. They were sadly both confirmed deceased at the scene and their families have been informed. Scene guards remain in place and enquiries are ongoing by the relevant agencies.”