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Man killed in paragliding crash | Man killed in paragliding crash |
(10 minutes later) | |
A 50-year-man has died after his paraglider crashed into the water near Portrush in County Antrim. | A 50-year-man has died after his paraglider crashed into the water near Portrush in County Antrim. |
An air and sea rescue operation was launched after the man got into difficulty at White Rocks beach at about 1945 BST on Thursday. | |
The man was given first aid and taken to hospital, however, he later died. | |
Coastguard watch manager Diana Gadd said the man was aiming for the beach, but due to the weather, landed in the water and got entangled in the harness. | |
Local lifeboats and a helicopter from Scotland were called to the scene. | |
Ms Gadd said: "I gather that the paraglider had been aiming for the beach, he hadn't had any updraft and had overshot, landing in the water where he got entangled in lines from the parachute. He wasn't able to unclip his harness. | |
"This was an experienced paraglider living locally and was gliding with two friends. It must have been very upsetting for them particularly, because they were still in the air watching this going on. | |
"The chap was eventually recovered from the water with some difficulty because where he was, was in amongst rocks and the lifeboat, with a big swell running, had quite a bit of difficulty getting in." | |
His friends managed to land safely. |