A paraglider was airlifted to a specialist hospital after crashing on the Cumbrian fells.
The man, described as being in his fifties and from Penrith, came down on the Howgills, near Kirkby Stephen, yesterday.
The Great North Air Ambulance was called at about 12.20pm yesterday.
A spokesman for the GNAAS said the Pride of Cumbria helicopter landed about 30m away from the casualty.
"The aircrew doctor and paramedic had to release the paraglider from his harness before being able to assess and treat the patient," said the spokesman.
"They were later joined by a North West Ambulance Service paramedic crew from Brough, who assisted with placing the patient onto a scoop stretcher before carrying him to the waiting aircraft."
The man was flown to James Cook Hospital in Middlebrough with serious back injuries.
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