Man dies in hang gliding accident

One man has died and another is in hospital with serious back injuries after two separate gliding accidents in south Shropshire.

Both incidents happened on the Long Mynd within hours of each other.

The first involved a paraglider who crash-landed near the Midlands Gliding Club on Sunday morning. He was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Several hours later a man from south Gloucestershire died after his hang glider dropped near the same spot.

The 25-year-old, who fell 60ft, was flown to hospital by air ambulance but died shortly after arriving.

The injured man, who was in his 40s, suffered serious spinal injuries.

Inspector Keith Gee, of West Mercia Police, said the incidents did not appear to be connected and the cause of the crashes was unclear.

The south Shropshire coroner, Anthony Sibcey, has been notified and a joint investigation between the police and the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association is under way.