The British stuntman who performed at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics was killed in a wingsuit flying accident Thursday in the Swiss Alps. Mark Sutton crashed into a rocky ridge after jumping from a helicopter at 10,800 feet. He and 19 other pilots were taking part in Helibase 74, a three-day, non-competitive event in Switzerland and France.
The accident unfolded after Sutton jumped from the helicopter on a warm-up flight intended to last a minute. Footage revealed that Sutton veered off course after jumping, hitting the mountain at a speed of over 155 miles per hour.
“There was no chance of survival,” a spokesman for the Swiss police told . “This was an accident. The production company and helicopter company are not implicated in any way.”
In the 2012 Summer Games, Sutton played a lead role, jumping into the Olympic Stadium while dressed as James Bond. He co-jumper, who played the role of Queen Elizabeth II, told that he lost a friend who was “smart, articulate and funny. “In any sport where you share a common bond you can make friends in a heartbeat that last a lifetime.”