Paraglider hospitalised with back and pelvic injuries after crash on Lake District fell (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Paraglider hospitalised with back and pelvic injuries after crash on Lake District fell
4:00pm Sunday 21st October 2012 in News
A PARAGLIDER was hospitalised after he fell up to 50 feet when his canopy collapsed at Styhead Tarn near Keswick.
The 26-year-old man from Northamptonshire was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle with back and pelvic injuries after the accident around 12.30pm yesterday.
A spokesman for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, who came to his aid, said: "The team was alerted to a casualty reported as suffering a hip injury after a fall.
"This turned out to be a man who had attempted to 'speed fly' down from Windy Gap, using a rig similar to a paraglider.
"He was caught by a cross wind, the canopy collapsed, and he fell between 10 and 15 metres to ground, suffering back and pelvic injuries.
"The incident was attended by the Great North Air Ambulance, and the team assisted the paramedic to splint the casualty and then transport him to the aircraft.
"Because of the nature of his injuries, he was flown directly to the Royal Victoria Infirmary at Newcastle for treatment."
