Mark Sutton, a stuntman who made his mark in the opening ceremony of last summer's the London 2012 Olympics — parachuting into the stadium dressed as Daniel Craig's James Bond — was killed in an accident Aug. 14 flying near Martigny, Switzerland. BBC reports that the 42-year-old British pro was wing suit flying for an Epic TV extreme sports event when he crashed into the ridge of rock.
At the event, former army officer Sutton was in a group of 20 other wing suit pilots who jumped from helicopters at 10,800 feet in the Swiss Alps; he is believed to have died on impact. (Wing suit flyers were special suits which allow them to glide through the air at high speeds before opening a parachute.)
Last summer, Sutton doubled at Craig's 007 agent while he and another stuntman playing Queen Elizabeth jumped from a helicopter above the Olympic Stadium as millions watched from around the world.
Film director Danny Boyle, who directed the opening ceremony, told the Evening Standard that Sutton was "gentle and thoughtful," and that his death was "a huge loss to his profession".
"The show was built from so many contributions from so many people, none finer and braver than Mark Sutton's . . .On behalf of everyone in the show we were all honored to have him worked with him and to have known him as a friend and a professional. All our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues."
