A 49-year-old man was rescued on Sunday after his paraglider spiralled out of control and crashed into a wooded area in Hong Kong’s New Territories, the second accident involving such aircraft this month.
Police received a report at 11.27am from a hiker on Section 4 of the MacLehose Trail that a paraglider had lost control and plunged into trees near Pyramid Hill in Ma On Shan with no signs of movement for a few minutes.
Firefighters were deployed and gathered at Kak Hang Tun to launch a mountain rescue operation.
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The paraglider, surnamed Chiu, 49, was subsequently winched to safety by a Government Flying Service helicopter. He was flown to the Wan Chai heliport and transferred by ambulance to Ruttonjee Hospital for treatment.
The 536-metre Pyramid Hill is said to be Hong Kong’s highest and largest paragliding site and is among eight areas designated by the Civil Aviation Department for the activity.
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Sunday’s crash was the second involving a paraglider this month. On December 9, a 68-year-old retired man died after strong winds blew his paraglider into the summit of Shek O Peak at Dragon’s Back.