Man dies and woman injured in 'human swan' paragliding crash

A man has died and a woman has been seriously injured in a paragliding crash in the Highlands.

Emergency services were called around 4:45pm on Saturday to the incident near Loch Na Gainmhich.

Sacha Dench, dubbed the “human swan”, and her support staff member Dan Burton, 54, were in the final stages of a 3000-mile Round Britain Climate Challenge.

Mr Burton died at the scene and Ms Dench is currently in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in a serious condition.

The PA news agency understands that Ms Dench had been flying earlier in the day with Mr Burton, whose role includes documenting the climate challenge from the air, taking film and photographs.

The pair had landed before taking off again at around 3:30pm.

The ground crew, who communicate with the flyers and pick them up when they land, thereafter lost contact.

In statement, the trustees of the Conservation Without Borders, which was founded by Ms Dench, said: “We are very sorry to have to confirm that Dan Burton, the support paramotorist has died as a result of the accident.

“Sacha Dench is seriously injured and is being treated in hospital. Her injuries are serious but not life-threatening

“Both highly experienced paramotorists, our thoughts are with the family of Dan Burton to whom we offer our sincere condolences.

“The incident was attended by police and medics and enquiries are underway to establish the details of the accident.”

The statement added that the families of those involved had been informed and that the Round Britain Climate Challenge would now be put on hold.

Ms Dench had begun her climate challenge in June, taking off from Stevenston in North Ayrshire.