Heart-breaking tributes have been paid to a much-loved videographer who died in a skydiving tragedy in County Durham.

Family and friends have posted emotional messages following the death of Sam Cornwell who was killed when his parachute failed to open.

Mr Cornwell, who was 46, and from Hampshire, was working for Sky-High Sky Diving Peterlee during the jump on Saturday, April 28.

It is understood he landed on a factory roof on South West Industrial Estate in Shotton and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Northern Echo: Emergency service at the scene in Shotton on April 28Emergency service at the scene in Shotton on April 28 (Image: Michael Robinson)His death has had a devastating effect on the skydiving community and the loved ones he leaves behind.

Writing on social media, Mr Cornwell’s sister Toni said: “My lovely brother Sam sadly passed away after a skydiving accident.

“Words can't describe how we are feeling.

“He meant so much to so many people.

“He was very loved and will be sorely missed.”

Mr Cornwell’s best friend Jerrie Mallon described him as his ‘brother from another mother.’ 

In a moving post on his Facebook page Mr Mallon said: “I really can't understand why it had to happen to the kindest most caring human I've ever known.

“It was an honour to have you as our best man for our wedding and you even managed to get me there on time.

“We're just so devastated our little Walter will never get to know his Godfather and understand what a true legend of a gentleman you are.

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“I always imagined us two sitting in a bar in our 80s sipping on our pints telling the young nippers about our unbelievable reckless antics we got up to as we grew up terrorising the streets of Godshill.

“Who's going to back up the stories now?”

Mr Cornwell’s death is now the subject of an investigation by Durham Constabulary and British Skydiving.

The Northern Echo:

Sky High Skydiving, formerly Peterlee Parachute Centre, has been at Shotton Colliery since 1987 and was taken over by four local businessmen with a passion for the extreme sport in 2020.

The company has closed down operation this week while heartbroken staff come to terms with the tragedy.

A spokesman for the firm said: “We are all deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend, colleague and talented member of our team, our skydiving family.”