Paraglider recovering after crash landing

6:14pm Tuesday 24th June 2008

Comments (2)   Have your say »

A paraglider from Sussex is recovering in hospital after she crashed into a hillside.

Verity Sowden, 32, from Worthing, had to be airlifted from the remote crash site in Shropshire after ambulances struggled to reach her.

The Shropshire County Air Ambulance dodged other paragliders to land on top of a nearby hill as near to her as possible.

Its crew then descended 500 metres to where she landed.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the helicopter had problems landing because of the number of other aircraft in the area at the time.

The spokeswoman said paramedics administered pain relief to Ms Sowden, who is sales director for Brighton-based paragliding magazine Cross Country, before putting a neck collar on her.

With help from bystanders, she was then carried to the top of the hill on a spinal board and taken to nearby Selly Oak Hospital where she was treated for stomach and back injuries as well as a fractured leg.

The accident happened at the Long Mynd Soaring Club in Church Stretton at 1.15pm on Monday.

A former estate agent, Ms Sowden is a keen member of the Airworks club in Glynde, near Brighton.

She was taking part in a British Paragliding Cup competition when the accident happened.

Ms Sowden is being treated in hospital. It is not clear when she will be able to return home.

Leave your messages of support to Ms Sowden and her family below.