A PILOT was seriously injured after his paraglider crashed near Swyre.

The paraglider came down in a field and the pilot was airlifted to hospital by the coastguard helicopter.

Emergency services were called to a field east of Swyre, off the B3157 coast road. The area is a known spot for paragliding.

Onlookers reported seeing ambulances, and the helicopter which landed in the field.

One person was seen directing traffic as the ambulances were partially blocking the road.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance said crews were alerted at 2.40pm. An ambulance and paramedic in a rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene.

Details of the injuries are not known but the spokesman understood they were ‘serious and traumatic’ after the man came down from a height.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: “The helicopter was scrambled to Swyre to a report that a paraglider had fallen.

“The casualty was stabilised and airlifted to Dorset County Hospital.”

Former glider pilot Mike Ford who lives near the scene said: “They worked on the casualty for some time before he was taken away.

“The gliders are usually in the field on the sea side of the road but this guy had come down on the opposite side.

“They get an updraft from the hill, it’s called wave riding. The prevailing wind hits the hill and gives them a good lift, as opposed to a normal thermal. They never get 50-60 feet off the ground but it’s still a long way down.

“I don’t know what happened in this case."