Paraglider pilot rescued after getting stuck 70ft up in a tree

A paraglider pilot was rescued by the North East Wales Search and Rescue team this afternoon after getting trapped around 70 feet high in a tree in Llangollen.

NEWSAR (North East Wales Search and Rescue Team) were called to the incident by North Wales Police at 12:40pm this afternoon.

One of the search and rescue team members used his professional tree climbing skills to get above the casualty so a rope system could be built to lower him gently to the ground.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter also attempted to winch the casualty but there was considerable danger of displacing the paraglider canopy due to the downdraft, potentially causing the casualty to fall.

Fortunately the man hadn’t suffered any injuries in the crash and was able to walk away to his car.

The rescue brought together a number of agencies, including the Wales Ambulance Service, the Wales Air Ambulance North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The NEWSAR service is made up of volunteers team members and they do not receive any payment for providing this service to the Police.

You can read more about fundraising and donation to NEWSAR via this link.