A 40-year-old tourist, from the United Kingdom, has undergone surgery after he was seriously injured in a hang-glider crash near Omarama.
The man, who was on a hang-gliding course with a Queenstown-based company, took off from Benmore Peak, about 5km north of Omarama, about 6pm on Sunday.
It appeared that soon after taking off, he turned back towards the hill and crashed into it, sustaining serious head and facial injuries, Constable Paul Mander said yesterday.
One of the injured man's associates contacted emergency services and initially there was some confusion as to the site of the crash.
The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter winched the man from the crash site and flew him to Dunedin Hospital, where he underwent surgery that night.
Const Mander understood the man was in an induced coma yesterday.
Police inquiries were continuing and the matter had also been referred to the Civil Aviation Authority and Department of Labour.
The tourist was on a course, under instruction, and it appeared there were instructors on site at the time of the crash.
Const Mander would not release the name of the company involved.
CAA spokeswoman Emma Peel was unable to provide any further details about the crash yesterday.
