A paragliding pilot had a lucky escape after crashing into a steep, forested hillside near Queenstown's gondola yesterday.
The man was rescued by firefighters after he injured his leg in the crash, which occurred a few hundred metres from the gondola's base station about 12.30pm.
Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Andrew Barry said firefighters initially rode up the gondola to start their search after receiving conflicting accounts of where the man had gone into the trees.
But the pilot, who was not a commercial operator, was able to use his cellphone to direct rescuers to his location.
The man landed in an area of bluffs, so the six-strong crew had to take care to ensure their own safety, Mr Barry said.
Because of the man's injury and the difficulty of the terrain, he had to be assisted down the hill in places.
St John spokeswoman Victoria Hawkins said the man was taken by ambulance to Lakes District Hospital for treatment for a minor injury.
