Skydive victim named by colleagues

A Londoner who died in a skydiving accident in Peterborough is thought to be 53-year-old wine merchant Patrick Sandeman.

He died after colliding with another skydiver at Sibson Airfield on Saturday.

Jancis Robinson, a wine critic who writes for the Financial Times, paid tribute to Mr Sandeman, saying "a very bright light has been extinguished".

She wrote on her website: "I'm sure I am not alone in having found Patrick one of the most appealing and entertaining characters in the wine business.

"A total ornament to the British wine trade, he was a member of the Sandeman family of port and sherry fame, managing to be devastatingly handsome but not intimidatingly so. Charming but not oleaginous. Well informed but engaging.

"Great company, in a word - and extremely talented in his ability to hand-pick great wines from, particularly, Italy. He occupied a unique place in the world of wine.

"I was dimly aware that he was keen on derring do, but he certainly didn't ram it down my throat....Our very deepest condolences to his equally delightful wife Katy and their children."

Emergency services went to the airfield on Saturday afternoon, after the two skydivers collided around 50 feet from the ground. The impact caused their parachutes to collapse.

Despite efforts to revive him, Mr Sandeman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other man was last night in a serious but stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.