World champion skydiver Loic Jean-Albert is recovering in Dunedin Hospital after crashing during a flight in Wanaka on Tuesday.
Frenchman Jean-Albert, 30, crashed near the Treble Cone ski area during a speed flight in preparation for the inaugural New Zealand Air Games, to be held in Wanaka next
week, the Southland Times reported.
Speed riding involves pilots travelling low to the ground while completing a slalom course.
The star skydiver only arrived in New Zealand from Europe two days before the crash.
He was able to continue flying and landed at the bottom of the hill where he was treated by St John Ambulance staff.
He was taken to Dunedin Hospital with suspected pelvic injuries, and today remained in a stable condition in a general ward.
Jean-Albert is described in New Zealand Air Games publicity as skydiving's biggest star.
He is the current world champion and was named skydiver of the decade, having completed more than 11,000 jumps.
Jean-Albert is also the designer of a wingsuit marketed under the label Fly Your Body. Wingsuit flying is the practice of gliding wearing only a special jumpsuit.
- NZPA
