Post by Brett on Feb 17, 2012 20:12:42 GMT 12
A 40-year-old man has been killed after suffering "multiple injuries" in a speed-gliding accident at Treble Cone skifield near Wanaka today.
Police spokesman Phillip Melchior said the man was found dead when emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after midday.
He said the man was flying by himself using a parachute specifically designed for speed when he "hit the ground fast" and suffered "significant injuries".
"There were no witnesses of the accident, but there were other paragliders in the area, who came on the scene sometime after. They raised the alarm and tried to resuscitate him for about 40 minutes."
Wanaka ambulance officer Don McMillan said they were still attempting CPR when ambulance arrived, but "he was obviously dead".
The man crashed on the side of Treble Cone, below the access road about two thirds of the way up the mountain.
McMillan said it appeared he had leaped off from the road and was "speed-gliding," which consisted of gliding down the mountain as fast as you can and as close as you can.
Wanaka police search and rescue coordinator Sergeantt Aaron Nicholson said speed-gliding is considered to be similar in risk to base jumping and requires a high level of flying skill.
Police were notifying the next of kind and the incident was being reported to the coroner.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/6438021/Fatal-speed-gliding-crash-near-Wanaka
Police spokesman Phillip Melchior said the man was found dead when emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after midday.
He said the man was flying by himself using a parachute specifically designed for speed when he "hit the ground fast" and suffered "significant injuries".
"There were no witnesses of the accident, but there were other paragliders in the area, who came on the scene sometime after. They raised the alarm and tried to resuscitate him for about 40 minutes."
Wanaka ambulance officer Don McMillan said they were still attempting CPR when ambulance arrived, but "he was obviously dead".
The man crashed on the side of Treble Cone, below the access road about two thirds of the way up the mountain.
McMillan said it appeared he had leaped off from the road and was "speed-gliding," which consisted of gliding down the mountain as fast as you can and as close as you can.
Wanaka police search and rescue coordinator Sergeantt Aaron Nicholson said speed-gliding is considered to be similar in risk to base jumping and requires a high level of flying skill.
Police were notifying the next of kind and the incident was being reported to the coroner.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/6438021/Fatal-speed-gliding-crash-near-Wanaka