Paraglider seriously injured after hitting rock in Tyrol

A 52-year-old paraglider was seriously injured after hitting a large rock feet first at high speed while approaching a landing in Ginzling in the Zillertal, ORF reported. He was rescued by an emergency medical helicopter and flown to Kufstein Hospital.

The Austrian had been taking part in a bike, hike and fly tour in the Zillertal Alps with a 38-year-old German. They first cycled through the Floitental valley to the material cable car serving the Greizer Hut, then climbed on foot with glacier equipment to the 3,379-metre Großer Löffler peak.

After reaching the summit at about 10 a.m., they descended several hundred metres before launching their paragliders west of and below the Trippachspitze. The 52-year-old hit the rock during his landing approach.