A British tourist has died while paragliding in Spain, prompting the Foreign Office to demand urgent reforms to EU safety regulations for adventure sports. The victim, a 42-year-old man from Manchester, was on holiday in the Costa del Sol when the accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene after being found unconscious by local emergency services.
Witnesses reported that his parachute failed to deploy correctly during a tandem flight. The Foreign Office has now written to the European Commission, calling for mandatory third-party inspections of all paragliding equipment used in the EU. 'This is a tragedy that should never have happened,' said a spokesperson.
'We want to see standardised safety checks and regular maintenance logs for all adventure tourism operators.' The incident comes amid rising concerns about the enforcement of existing EU safety directives. British tour operators have faced criticism for lacking adequate insurance and documentation.
The victim's family has been informed and is being supported by consular staff. Local authorities in Spain have launched an investigation into the incident, but no arrests have been made. The UK government has advised caution for those considering similar activities abroad, urging them to verify operator credentials before booking.
