Paraglider is plucked from tree by firefighters in Bournemouth

Fall from grace! Paraglider is pictured being plucked from tree by firefighters after leaping off 150ft scaffolding and sailing straight into nearby branches

• A fire engine arrived at the scene and the paraglider was retrieved from the tree

A paraglider has been rescued by firefighters after he sailed straight into a tree and became tangled in its branches.

The unnamed man, aged in his 40s, had taken to the air to enjoy the sunny weather in Bournemouth, Devon, on Friday before he became caught in the tree.

He is believed to have leapt from 150ft scaffolding attached to a block of flats along Manor Road in Bournemouth, Dorset.

He then plunged straight down in front of the building where he snagged his canopy in the branches of a tree 30ft above the ground. 

The paraglider was thankfully discovered dangling by residents in the area of East Cliff who alerted the authorities to help rescue him.

The paraglider was rescued by firefighters after he sailed straight into a tree and became tangled in its branches

He plunged straight down in front of the building where he snagged his canopy in the branches of a tree 30ft above the ground

A fire engine was later pictured at the scene as rescuers reached the man with the help of an aerial ladder.

One resident who came to the rescue told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: ‘I had been out and just came home at around 6.30pm and outside on Manor Road there was a fire truck.

‘I then saw two more police cars and an ambulance – there were a few emergency services around outside Toft Mansions and Albany.

The local man, who remained anonymous, added: ‘Somebody had told me there was a paraglider who had crashed into the tree, so I went outside to have a look and saw him hanging from the tree looking lifelike.

‘It wasn’t a bona fide parachutist, he had just somehow got on top of our building and jumped from it.

‘They got the parachute off him eventually and cut him free from the tree.’

This isn’t the first paragliding incident in the area. Residents have previously reported accidents and near-misses form those who have taken to their air.

The man, aged in his 40s, is believed to have to let from 150ft scaffolding attached to a block of flats along Manor Road in Bournemouth, Dorset

The man told the local publication:  ‘A similar incident had happened last week when I saw a man fly by the window with a parachute on and land in our garden.

‘He quickly packed up his parachute and fled the garden.’

Rescue crew from Springbourne and a technical rescue crew from Poole arrived to help the man down with the use of an aerial ladder platform engine, a spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service told the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

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