Pilot dies in paragliding accident as fellow flyer says: 'I looked back and saw him drop like a stone'

  • The two men were flying around Leeds and the surrounding areas last night
  • Shortly before their flight was due to end, one of the men crashed to the ground
  • His friend landed near by in an effort to provide emergency assistance 
  • Unfortunately, the victim died at the scene prompting a major investigation  

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A pilot plunged to his death a horrific paragliding accident while flying with his friend who said: 'I looked back and saw him drop like a stone.'

The two friends, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, had been a pleasure flight from the city centre over the surrounding countryside.

They were returning home when tragedy struck around 7pm on Tuesday . As emergency services raced to the scene, the victim was found fatally injured in a field.

The middle-aged man died in the wreckage of his glider despite frantic efforts by his friend, who had landed safely, and paramedics to revive him.

A middle aged man died after the paraglider he was flying spun out of control and crashed to the ground outside Leeds, West Yorkshire early last night

A middle aged man died after the paraglider he was flying spun out of control and crashed to the ground outside Leeds, West Yorkshire early last night

The victim was flying with a friend who witnessed him 'drop like a stone'. The friend landed safely nearby and tried to provide assistance before the arrival of emergency services

The victim was flying with a friend who witnessed him 'drop like a stone'. The friend landed safely nearby and tried to provide assistance before the arrival of emergency services

Eye witnesses saw the two paragliders flying together in the direction of Leeds city centre, when one of them began to spin, before plummeting him to his death.

One source said: 'It was two mates on a pleasure flight from Leeds city centre over countryside. They were returning home when disaster struck.

'They were said to be flying pretty low. That meant when he got into difficulties, he didn't have time to deploy the emergency chute.

'Shortly before the accident he was said to have performed a manoeuvre that caused the lines to become twisted.

'Sadly, he felt to his death seconds later as his horrified friend watched on helplessly. He told me 'I looked back and saw him drop like a stone',

'A third man flying above, not with the party of two, is said to have caught the whole incident on camera.'

Air Ambulance medics were scrambled to the £Tong area, on the outskirts of the city, between Leeds and Bradford.

They arrived in a field off Tong Lane, close to Tong Garden Centre, to find a male, thought to be a middle aged man, fatally injured.

Investigations by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Scene Investigators were carried out at the location throughout the night, according to people who were there.

West Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment. Posting tributes on social media, locals said the dare devil regularly flew above their houses.

One said: 'See these guys flying regularly. Awful news.'

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