Paraglider injured in take-off 'issue'

A paraglider has been taken to hospital for treatment after getting into difficulty and injuring himself on rocks in North Yorkshire.

The man "experienced an issue" as he was attempting to take off from Knipe Scar on Wednesday afternoon, the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) said.

He was dragged over "rough rock" which caused "deep lacerations to his upper and lower leg", UWFRA posted on social media.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was taken to Airedale Hospital, according to Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

A spokesperson for the the trust said: "We received an emergency call just before 15:00 BST on Wednesday to report an injured male paraglider in the Grassington area.

"An ambulance, air ambulance, team leader and mountain rescue were dispatched to the incident and one patient was conveyed by road to Airedale Hospital."

In a post on Facebook, UWFRA gave more details of the incident.

"A paraglider was attempting to take off from Knipe Scar when he experienced an issue," it said.

"His friend managed to catch the canopy before it took off, but not before the casualty was dragged some distance over rough rock causing deep lacerations to his upper and lower leg.

"With assistance, he made it halfway down the hill before calling for help."

The ambulance service and and air ambulance crew were already on scene treating the man's wounds when the team arrived, UWFRA said.

"The team then drove the casualty to the waiting land ambulance for an onward trip to hospital.

"We hope the gentleman recovers very quickly," the post added.

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