Man Killed In Orange County Paragliding Accident

NEW HAMPTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A paragliding accident left a man dead Wednesday on a frozen river in Orange County.

Around 3:25 p.m., New York State Police responded to the accident on the Wallkill River in New Hampton. Police said Rupert Cebular, 47, of Manhattan, and another man were each operating the paragliders from Randall Airport in Middletown on the frozen river.

A paraglider is an ultra-light, engine-powered machine. The pilot wears a motor on his or her back to provide thrust, and a paraglider wing like a parachute that provides lift.

Cebular was practicing a touch-and-go maneuver when he fell through the ice and lost control, state police said.

Witnesses and the other pilot pulled Cebular from the river, but he was dead, police said.

His body was taken to the Orange County Medical Examiner's office, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of his death, state police said.

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