A man sustained serious back injuries in a hang gliding accident in Achill in Co Mayo yesterday.
The incident happened after 7pm when the hang glider he was using crashed into a cliff south of Keel beach near Dookinelly. The man is believed to be in his 40s and from Austria.
In the rescue operation coordinated by Malin Head coast guard, Achill coast guard, who were first to the scene, scaled down the cliff to stabilise the man who was described as being in an “inaccessible” area.
The man was said to be conscious and spoke of having severe back pain.
Later, an Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Sligo lowered a paramedic to the scene. The injured man was then strapped to a spinal board before being airlifted to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar at about 10pm.
His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
