Friday, 27 February 2009 - 5:55pm |
National News

One person dead in glider accident

1 min read

At about 2pm this afternoon police and emergency services were notified of a glider accident on Mt St Cuthbert near Omarama.

A glider owned by Glide Omarama with two people on board had crashed into the side of the mountain.

Other gliders were in the area at the time and they called Emergency Services.

Helicopters and medical staff were on the scene soon after the accident.

Two people were on board the glider. One is dead and the other seriously injured person has been flown to Dunedin Hospital.

Both are foreign nationals and police are working with embassy staff to notify next of kin.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and police are investigating. The CAA is expected to be on the scene first thing tomorrow morning.

No further information is available at this stage.

For media inquiries contact: Sergeant Tony Woodbridge via Dunedin Police Station on 03 471-4800