The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the man who died following a hang gliding incident near Lumby on June 11, 2012.

He is Richard Michael Wood, aged 38, from Hope.

Mr. Wood was flying his hang glider solo from a popular location northwest of Lumby known as Coopers Launch. Shortly before 2 p.m. on June 11, he was coming in for a landing when something went wrong and he crashed into the landing field.

He suffered critical injuries in the crash and was taken by air ambulance to Kelowna General Hospital. However, his injuries were too severe to be survivable, and he died late on June 15.

Mr. Wood's death is the second of a hang glider in B.C. in the past six weeks. Lenami Godinez Avila died on April 28 in an incident on Mount Woodside in Agassiz. As well, a student operating a powered paraglider, Barry Kleiter, died on June 7 following an incident near Enderby.

The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate all three deaths.

The family of Mr. Wood has been notified of his death. On behalf of the family, the BC Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.

For further information, please contact:

Barb McLintock
Coroner, Strategic Programs
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9253 or 250 213-5020