Emergency services battle to rescue hang glider pilot

A hang glider pilot has been pictured helplessly dangling 100ft in the air from a tree by his parachute after crashing into a National Park. 

The brightly-dressed airman, believed to be a man in his 50s from north London, faced a nauseating wait to be rescued after the terrifying incident near the South Downs village of Fulking, West Sussex.  

He is trapped 100 feet above the ground, while his plane is currently wedged into the tree.

The brightly-dressed airman, believed to be a man in his 50s from north London, faced a nauseating wait to be rescued

Rescue teams work to free the man  and his aircraft following the terrifying crash

Firefighters are trying to recover the glider and the air ambulance has been called in to airlift the pilot to hospital.

A force spokesman said: “At 3.55pm on Monday (18 September) we received a report from the ambulance service that a hangglider had become stuck about 80 feet up in a tree off Saddlescombe Road, Poynings, near Devils Dyke.

“Fire and Rescue together with the ambulance service are currently arranging his rescue.

“At present the man in the hanglider, believed to be in his fifties and from North London, is not reported to have been injured.” 

Firefighters are trying to recover the glider and the air ambulance has been called in to airlift the pilot to hospital

Fire and rescue teams on the ground after being called out to the crash at a National Park