A daredevil flier very nearly performed his last feat today, just managing to escape when his hang-glider broke up around him midair.
Chuck Berry's new style hang glider smashed in pieces into the side of Queenstown's Coronet Peak seconds after he managed to deploy his reserve parachute.
"Iwas just diving for a bit of speed and all of a sudden the whole thing started bucking and one wing went, then I think the other wing went," Mr Berry told TV3 News.
A rescue helicopter was sent out, but Mr Berry made a safe landing.
Chuck Berry, known for his daring feats as a base jumper, paraglider and hang-glider pilot, had been one of several glider pilots performing aerobatics above Queenstown when his hang glider began breaking up today.
