/ 27 January 2006

Hang glider rescued after spending night up a tree

A Hungarian hang glider who spent an uncomfortable night dangling from the branches of a 12-metre tree was on Friday rescued unharmed by emergency services, police said.

The 42-year-old had been competing in an international hang gliding competition in the southeastern state of Victoria when he crashed into trees on Thursday.

Organisers raised the alarm when he failed to return as expected and a police helicopter spotted the man in bushland early on Friday.

“He was found hanging from trees … and he has been recovered,” a police spokesperson told Agence France Presse. “He was dehydrated by otherwise OK.”

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said the man had not required hospital treatment.

“He’s tired and hungry and happy to be down,” she said.

“He hasn’t suffered any injuries so he’s a very, very lucky man.” – AFP