A man piloting a powered paraglider died on Thursday afternoon after his aircraft suffered a mid-air breakdown and plunged in the East China Sea off Fujian Province.

The accident happened at around 4:30 p.m. near the International Conference and Exhibition Center in Xiamen, a famous coastal resort. The man, who was flying about 20 meters above the water, suddenly plunged into the sea with his paraglider about 20 meters off shore, witnesses said.

Four tourists rescued the man who was immediately rushed to hospital. However, he later died while under care, according to the city's public security department.

Police said the man's left foot became entangled in the paraglider's ropes. An investigation has been requested into the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)