Man hurt in glider crash

A 34-year-old tourist from Eastern Europe was injured when his hang-glider crashed at Hamiltons Gap, on the Awhitu peninsula in South Auckland, yesterday afternoon.

Sergeant John Yearbury, of Pukekohe, said the man was experienced at gliding and was flying solo, but using wireless radio to stay in contact with an instructor, when he got into a wind current that dragged him into a hillside. The Westpac rescue helicopter took the man to Middlemore Hospital with back injuries and a broken leg.

"He was in a lot of pain," Mr Yearbury said.

The man did not have any family in New Zealand, and police were intending to try to contact his family overseas.