A PARAGLIDER has died after crashing into rocks.

It is thought that he fell around 50ft after launching from Buckstones Edge, off New Hey Road, on Saturday afternoon.

He was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services and mountain rescue teams to save him.

The paraglider launched during what was believed to be perfect conditions, but got into difficulty and crashed into rocks.

Watch Commander Damien Cameron, who led the technical rescue team, said: “The call came through that the man had fallen 100ft and was 50ft down a ravine.

“He was 50ft down from the car park level and it wasn’t so steep that we needed to do a rope rescue. We were able to get down there and bring him up on a stretcher.

“All the emergency services tried to revive the casualty but he was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Brighouse Fire Station Commander Andy Crowther added: “We were called at 2pm yesterday to reporters of a paraglider who had crash-landed on a steep slope by the car park at Buckstones.

“Unfortunately he was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor who had attended.

“He was recovered by the fire service and members of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.”

Technical rescue firefighters scaled the rocks to reach the man.

It’s not yet know how far the man fell and the Huddersfield coroner has been informed.

Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team’s assistant leader and spokesman Owen Phillips, said the incident “had occurred at the local beauty spot, which is popular for both paragliders and hang-gliders, who launch off the crags next to the main car-park to fly over March Haigh valley”.

He added: “Unfortunately, despite the favourable weather, a paraglider had got into difficulties and fell a considerable distance, crashing into an area of rocks just below the car park.

“The team was on hand to assist with a short evacuation up the steep valley-side to an ambulance waiting in the car park above.”

The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to the incident along with police, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team and Technical Rescue experts from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service based at Cleckheaton fire station, along with fire crews from Slaithwaite and Brighouse.

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