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| Microlight pilot's body found | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The body of a microlight pilot who set off from Gloucestershire Airport on a solo charity flight to Australia has been recovered off the French coast. | The body of a microlight pilot who set off from Gloucestershire Airport on a solo charity flight to Australia has been recovered off the French coast. |
| Martin Bromage, 49, from Cheltenham, began his journey on Monday but was reported missing during the flight. | Martin Bromage, 49, from Cheltenham, began his journey on Monday but was reported missing during the flight. |
| He hoped to complete the 11,000-mile (17,702 km) trip in six weeks and raise £150,000 for Help for Heroes. | He hoped to complete the 11,000-mile (17,702 km) trip in six weeks and raise £150,000 for Help for Heroes. |
| Dover Coastguard said there was bad visibility in the area at the time and revealed he was trying to turn back. | Dover Coastguard said there was bad visibility in the area at the time and revealed he was trying to turn back. |
| 'Spirit of adventure' | 'Spirit of adventure' |
| Martin Bromage was an experienced pilot and had been flying paragliders for 20 years. | Martin Bromage was an experienced pilot and had been flying paragliders for 20 years. |
| Speaking to BBC News on the day he set off from Staverton in Gloucestershire, Mr Bromage said: "It's been three months in the planning. It's a challenge and the opportunity to raise money for Help for Heroes is such a worthy cause. | Speaking to BBC News on the day he set off from Staverton in Gloucestershire, Mr Bromage said: "It's been three months in the planning. It's a challenge and the opportunity to raise money for Help for Heroes is such a worthy cause. |
| "I've always had a good spirit of adventure. This has been done before - five people have done it before in microlights but I'm the second person to do it solo and unsupported." | "I've always had a good spirit of adventure. This has been done before - five people have done it before in microlights but I'm the second person to do it solo and unsupported." |
| He's a really good member of the community, well liked and well known and it's truly truly tragic to hear what's happened Mark Ryan, Gloucestershire Airport | |
| The Coastguard said Mr Bromage was trying to return to the UK after weather conditions prevented him landing in France. | The Coastguard said Mr Bromage was trying to return to the UK after weather conditions prevented him landing in France. |
| A spokesman said: "There was dense fog all day yesterday. That was why he couldn't land in France. He couldn't land in France and was trying to come back to the UK." | A spokesman said: "There was dense fog all day yesterday. That was why he couldn't land in France. He couldn't land in France and was trying to come back to the UK." |
| The spokesman added that the information was received in Mr Bromage's final transmission at 1310 GMT on Monday. | The spokesman added that the information was received in Mr Bromage's final transmission at 1310 GMT on Monday. |
| Mark Ryan, director of Gloucestershire Airport, said: "We're all very very deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Martin's unfortunate accident. | Mark Ryan, director of Gloucestershire Airport, said: "We're all very very deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Martin's unfortunate accident. |
| "He's a really good member of the community, well liked and well known and it's truly truly tragic to hear what's happened." | "He's a really good member of the community, well liked and well known and it's truly truly tragic to hear what's happened." |
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| In November Mr Bromage spoke about the challenges he expected to face | In November Mr Bromage spoke about the challenges he expected to face |