Veteran hang glider dies in crash in Mie

Monday 09th November, 09:59 AM JST

MIE —

A group of hang gliders saw tragedy Sunday when one of their four-member group, 42-year-old Tomonori Naka of Aichi Prefecture, plummeted 150 meters to the ground during a hang gliding trip in Kuwana City.

According to eyewitnesses, Naka had been attempting a flight off a 340-meter hill when his glider began to sway back and forth. Then he suddenly plummeted to the ground. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but suffered serious injuries all over his body from the fall and died soon after, police said.

Naka had been a hang gliding enthusiast for over 20 years.

Wire reports

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6 Comments

sydenham at 09:27 AM JST - 9th November

When I was 12 I saw a guy die in a hang gliding accident. Got caught by a downward gust headfirst into a boulder. His helmet easily cracked open like a watermelon, as did his head. It's a beautiful, dangerous sport. No thanks, I have kids.

RIP
moonknightskye at 09:59 AM JST - 9th November

iv been in aichi yesterday and did saw hang gliders moving in a circular pattern.. we were amazed... but we never thought that that was his last day... though we didnt saw the crash I guess what we saw was him. poor guy
Yelnats at 02:16 PM JST - 9th November

He died doing something he loved. Best way to go. Sort of like Nelson Rockefeller did in NY many years back when he was governor.
nandakandamanda at 03:50 PM JST - 9th November

moonknightskye,*iv been in aichi yesterday and did saw hang gliders moving in a circular pattern.. we were amazed... but we never thought that that was his last day... though we didnt saw the crash I guess what we saw was him. poor guy *

He wasn't in Aichi.
stirfry at 05:45 PM JST - 9th November

@ yelnats: i remember that, old Nellie
ashika1009 at 06:29 PM JST - 9th November

Even if a person dies doing what he likes at age 42, I doubt the person about to die is happy about it. In this case, it is doubtful Mr. Naka even had time to experience anything but the uttermost fear. A sad story.