British thrillseeker dies after losing control during base jump in Turkey and crashing into a cliff face

• Briton Dilip Marcus Sundhod, 47, died during a free fall jump from a 1,300-ft cliff 

A British thrillseeker has died after losing control during a base jump in Turkey and crashing into a cliff face.

Briton Dilip Marcus Sundhod, 47, came to Fethiye, district of Mugla, in Turkey, to participate in the International Air Games Festival with a group of friends.

During a free fall jump off a 1,300-ft cliff in the Butterfly Valley with his friend, Dilip opened his parachute and lost control. 

He smashed into the steep rock face shortly after, Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet reports.

His shocked friends notified the National Medical Rescue and Gendarmerie Search and Rescue, who took an hour to reach Dilip due to the steep terrain.

Briton Dilip Marcus Sundhod (pictured with his partner Claire), 47, came to Fethiye, district of Mugla, in Turkey, to participate in the International Air Games Festival with a group of friends

During a free fall jump (like the one he was doing here) off a 1,300-ft cliff in the Butterfly Valley with his friend, Dilip opened his parachute and lost control

His shocked friends notified the National Medical Rescue and Gendarmerie Search and Rescue, who took an hour to reach Dilip due to the steep terrain. They confirmed he had died and lowered his body down with a rope (pictured here)

They confirmed the Briton had died and lowered his body down with a rope. He was taken to Kumburnu Beach and later to the Fethiye State Hospital morgue.

One of his devastated friends, Jean-Louis Ayivor, paid tribute to Dilip on a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise money to bring his body back to the UK.

He wrote: ‘To those who knew him, Dilip was a shining light, whose infectious laugh and smile would touch all who met him. 

‘His recent death in a tragic base jumping accident while on holiday in Turkey has left a gaping hole in many lives. 

‘He was well known in paragliding, skydiving and base jumping communities which has been echoed and reflected in the outpouring of touching and beautiful messages being shared.’

The Butterfly Valley is a popular spot with base jumpers or paragliders

One of his devastated friends, Jean-Louis Ayivor, paid tribute to Dilip (pictured here paragliding) on a GoFundMe page and hopes to raise money to bring his body back to the UK. He wrote: ‘To those who knew him, Dilip was a shining light, whose infectious laugh and smile would touch all who met him’

According to local media, Dilip’s jump was a separate free fall that was not part of the festival activities.

Investigators are looking into the legality of the jump and whether all the proper safety regulations for the dangerous sport were observed.

His friend said that while Dilip was insured via an extreme sports package, the ‘claim against his policy was rejected’.

‘We now have the painful task of repatriating him to the UK while his soulmate, Claire remains by his side in Turkey, with this situation only making the current task that much harder,’ he added.

‘We just want him home.’

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