James Bond stuntman and SAS hero is killed in an abseil race after plunging 300ft from a helicopter in China

A James Bond stuntman and former SAS hero has been killed after falling 300 ft from a helicopter in an abseil race.

Steve Truglia, from East London, died on Thursday after the abseil stunt in Chongqing, southwest China, went unsuitable.

The 54-year-old - who as soon as described being a stuntman because the 'finest job on this planet' - received awards in parachuting and mountaineering and held the world document for the quickest 100m abseil.

He additionally appeared in James Bond motion pictures Tomorrow By no means Dies and the World Is Not Sufficient, in addition to Hollywood classics comparable to Saving Personal Ryan.

Stuntman Steve Truglia (pictured) died after falling 300 ft from a helicopter in China

Mr Truglia, from south London, served within the SAS and the Particular Boat Service for 20 years

Buddies stated Mr Truglia and one other stuntman had been meant to be abseiling from the helicopter on the similar time.

Hours earlier than his demise, he had raised considerations it may not be large enough to take their mixed weight, based on the Solar. 

On his Fb web page he revealed how the race had been delayed resulting from hostile climate circumstances. 

He wrote: 'I am out right here [in China] doing an enormous aerial stunt, when the climate breaks.' 

Mr Truglia had the world document for abseiling 100 metres - he died on Thursday after falling from a helicopter in China 

The stuntman had appeared in James Bond motion pictures and Hollywood classics and in addition held world data for the quickest abseil 

His former navy colleague, Phil Tunnicliffe, stated: 'We now have not been capable of finding out a lot about what occurred. He had meant to be making an attempt the stunt on Tuesday above the Wulong Nationwide Park but it surely had been postpone till Thursday due to heavy mist and fog.

'All we've got been advised is that there was a fall, however that doesn't make sense to us. Steve was knowledgeable stunt man and had achieved a lot of these abseils many occasions.

'He was meant to be racing from a Chinese language stuntman dropping from the other aspect of the helicopter on the similar time. He was anxious it may not be large enough to take the burden of two folks.'

He added: 'It was 34 years in the past we had been at RAF Brize Norton doing our primary navy parachute course.

'After I heard the information I phoned him and left him a message, it was one thing I simply felt to do, I additionally despatched him a textual content.'

Within the message which he wrote on Fb, he stated: 'I am unable to consider you're gone mate, part of me simply died. You had been my finest buddy and brother for 36 years. It hasn't sunk in that I will by no means see you once more.

'One factor is for certain I will treasure the reminiscences and always remember you.'  

Mr Truglia, who died on Thursday, was a member of the Barking and Dagenham Canoe Membership

Mr Tunnicliffe stated the organisers and authorities in China had been offering assist and help in repatriating Mr Truglia's physique to the UK. 

Mr Truglia's girlfriend was knowledgeable of his demise by way of a textual content message from a Chinese language girl.

A spokesman for the Overseas Workplace stated: 'We now have supplied help to the household of a British nationwide who has sadly died in Chongqing, China. Our ideas are with them at this tough time.'

 

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