Two people have died after a hang-glider carrying a tourist and his instructor smashed into a concrete ramp.
The pair were approaching a landing spot on the beach when the aircraft suddenly plunged towards the ground, colliding with the concrete.
The horrifying accident happened at São Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday (2 November).
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The two victims have been identified as Brazilian instructor Luiz Eduardo Rodrigues dos Santos, 45, and Argentine tourist Adrian Guillermo Arismendi, 26.
Footage from onboard cameras showed the pair enjoying their trip as they soared over the Rio coastline.
But as they close in on the landing area at low altitude, the pilot appears to make a sharp turn towards the shoreline.
One of the glider wings then grazes with the sand before the aircraft ploughs into the concrete structure.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying unusually low before it crashed.
Beachgoer Ana Clara Goulart told local media: “Those of us on the sand thought it was strange because they were flying very low.
“They were too close to us, and it was already quite windy. We didn’t imagine they were falling.
“At one point, the hang-glider started spinning in the air. That’s when I realised something was wrong.”
Both men were rushed to Municipal Miguel Couto Hospital in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest.
Despite the best efforts of medics, they were both pronounced dead.
Adrian had reportedly arrived in Brazil on Sunday, and was said to be taking part in his first hang-gliding flight.
His instructor Luiz had around ten years of experience flying before becoming a qualified instructor approximately a year ago.
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