Skydive crash victim ‘a wonderful family man and wine industry star’

The widow of one of Britain’s leading wine merchants who fell to his death in a parachuting accident paid tribute today to her “wonderful husband”.

Witnesses told how Patrick Sandeman, 53, co-owner of the Lea & Sandeman chain in west London, collided with a fellow skydiver in mid-air.

Speaking at the family home in Putney, Katie Sandeman, 52, told the Standard: “He was a wonderful man and a wonderful family man.”

Friends and colleagues said Mr Sandeman was a hugely respected figure in the wine industry and “one of the greatest blokes in the business”.

He founded his business in 1988 with Charles Lea, 55. It has four stores in Chelsea, Kensington, Barnes and Chiswick and has been named London Merchant of the Year four times in a row. Industry figures have called it “probably the best wine shop in the country”.

Critic Jancis Robinson wrote that “a bright light has been extinguished”. Guy Woodward, editor of Decanter magazine, tweeted: “A great guy and a fantastic wine merchant.”

Freelance writer Matt Walls added: “The UK wine scene will be poorer without him.”

Mr Sandeman leaves three children, all in their twenties. One friend told the Daily Telegraph: “It is a huge tragedy for his family and the many people around him. He was loved by everyone. He was a very jolly person who had a gorgeous wife and terrific children.”

He added: “He also loved wine and his business. We are all devastated. He was a very experienced skydiver. He just loved living life to the fullest.”

Another friend, who also declined to be named, said: “We are all crushed by this. He was one of the greatest blokes in the business and so professional.”

An investigation is continuing into the accident on Saturday at Sibson airfield, near Peterborough. Mr Sandeman is said to have collided with a French skydiver 50 feet from the ground, collapsing both their parachutes.

The 28-year-old Frenchman was last night in a serious condition with severe spine and lower leg injuries at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.