Paragliding starting again after death

Ben Letham. Photo: ODT
Ben Letham. Photo: ODT
A Queenstown paragliding company will resume commercial operations this weekend, weather permitting, following the  death of one of its employees.

Scotsman Ben Letham (26) died last Saturday after appearing to lose control during a solo recreational flight and crashing on to the roof of a building at Queenstown Primary School.

Services  were held for him yesterday in Gibbston and Alexandra.

On Monday friends and family will scatter some of his ashes from the Basket of Dreams on Queenstown Hill.

At the time of his death Mr Letham had been employed by GForce Paragliding for about six years — the company immediately suspended commercial operations out of respect.

GForce Paragliding co-director Gavin Taylor said the company aimed to resume commercial operations today, weather permitting.

Meanwhile, a Civil Aviation Authority investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing, CAA senior communications adviser Philippa Lagan said.

Two safety investigators, who arrived in Queenstown from Wellington on Sunday, met  police and local operators and gathered witness statements.

They were now back in Wellington analysing video evidence and the statements.

"We don’t have a timeframe yet for the completion of the investigation," Ms Lagan said.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

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