Paraglider badly hurt in crash close to peak

Summit cairn on Moel Wnion (Image: Chris Andrews/Wiki)

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor [e-mail]

A PARAGLIDER suffered serious injuries when crashing in mountainous terrain in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia).

The pilot was airlifted to hospital after making a ‘hard’ landing near Moel Wnion in the lower Carneddau mountain range.

According to the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OVMRO), the paraglider got into difficulty after experiencing a major problem with their aircraft. Despite the severity of the injuries, the casualty was able to call for help.

Moel Wnion, a 1,903ft peak between Llanllechid and Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, is regarded as providing ‘excellent soaring’ for hang gliders and paragliders. With a flattish top, it is a training ground for novice pilots.

Gliding club Snowdonia Sky Sports said: “Moel Wnion is a very forgiving site by local standards and offers great ridge soaring with good opportunities to hone those top-landing skills.”