Experienced paraglider killed south of Sydney identified
A paraglider who was killed at Stanwell Tops, south of Sydney, yesterday has been remembered as a "thoroughly likeable" father, teacher and musician.
Des Hamilton, 54, was blown back into the cliff face as he launched off the edge of the popular hang gliding and paragliding spot.
A rescue operation was launched yesterday, but it had to be called off as the light dwindled and the conditions became dangerous.
Des Hamilton was an experienced paraglider. Supplied
A specialist paramedic painstakingly inched down the sheer and crumbling cliff to the man, who was lying alongside his crumpled equipment.
Rescue police and a large contingent of emergency services today managed to retrieve the body.
The experienced glider pilot had launched from the cliff top site called Bald Hill, with witnesses saying he took off successfully but was blown back.
A police helicopter was also on the scene.
Today flowers were placed in his memory, at his final take-off spot.
A paraglider has been killed at Stanwell Tops, south of Sydney. Nine
"Des was doing something totally addictive, we love our sport," friend Peter Ffrench said.
"Just a thoroughly likeable person, he really was."
A specialist paramedic painstakingly inched down the sheer and crumbling cliff to the man in his 40s, who was lying alongside his crumpled equipment. Nine
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