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Sat, Aug 17, 2013

Wingsuit Flyer Fatally Injured In The Swiss Alps

Mark Sutton Had Parachuted Into Olympic Stadium As James Bond

An experienced wingsuit flyer was fatally injured Wednesday during a helicopter jump in the Swiss Alps. Investigators reviewing video captured by a second jumper said that 42-year-old Mark Sutton may have been "showing off" when he impacted the side of a mountain at nearly 150 miles per hour.

Sutton was considered one of the best wingsuit flyers in the world, as well as an experienced skydiver. He was tapped for the London Olympics opening ceremony to play the role of James Bond skydiving out of a helicopter with the "Queen" ... actually fellow stuntman Gary Connery ... into Olympic Stadium.

The U.K. newspaper The Mail reports that video captured by fellow jumper and friend Tony Uragallo shows Sutton leaving the helicopter, and then appearing to veer off course. The camera loses sight of Sutton seconds before he impacted the face of Mont Blanc on the Swiss-French border.

One source who asked not to be identified said that "apparently, he had been showing off a bit." Investigators will look into whether a wind gust or thermal may have changed Sutton's trajectory, pushing him into the side of the mountain.

Sutton, a former Army officer, was participating in an event for a French extreme sports channel showcasing 19 of the world's top BASE jumpers. The accident flight was intended to be a "warm-up" for the event.

(Wingsuit flyers pictured in public domain file photo)

FMI: http://polizei.ch/en

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