- Witnesses pulled the man from below the cliff but he died shortly after
- Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after 2pm Thursday afternoon
- About a dozen people were there as the tragedy unfolded, including his family
An experienced hang-glider pilot has died after he crashed into a cliff in Newcastle Thursday afternoon.
The 62-year-old man from Lake Macquarie collided heavily with a cliff face near Shepherds Hill about 1.45pm.
He reportedly crashed about two metres below the edge of the cliff after losing control of his hang glider.
Bystanders attended to the man before emergency services arrived, but he died at the scene, authorities say.
A 62-year-old experienced pilot from Lake Macquarie collided heavily with a cliff face near Shepherds Hill (pictured) about 1.45pm
The man launched his non-motorised aircraft from Strzelecki Lookout, just 400 metres north from the scene of the crash.
Newcastle City police Chief Inspector Gerard Lawson described the incident as ‘very tragic’.
‘A man has lost his life doing something that he loved,’ Inspector Lawson told Newcastle Herald.
About a dozen people were there as the tragedy unfolded, including the man’s family who were standing nearby.
Forensic police attended the scene and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
The man launched his non-motorised air craft from Strzelecki Lookout, just 400 metres north from the scene of the crash (stock photo used)