A MAN told today how his paraglider wife was lucky to be alive after crashing into a cliff and falling into the sea.

Experienced flyer and mum-of-two Kaye Escott, 43, is being treated for serious injuries in a high dependency ward at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, following the drama at Ringstead Bay.

Her condition is described as stable.

Husband Paul, who has been at her bedside, said she had misjudged the height of the cliff.

And he said his wife may have drowned if it was not for a dive boat which came to her aid.

Mr Escott said: "She made a tiny error in judging the height of the cliff and went straight into it and broke her pelvis and forearm.

"When she hit the sea she realised she couldn't get out of her harness and the sinking paraglider was dragging her down.

"But she had the presence of mind to trap air in the glider's wing and she used it as a kind of water wing to keep her afloat.

"She had to keep bailing water out of it and really didn't have long.

"It was very lucky that a diving boat was in the area or I don't think she would have made it.

"She has been very, very lucky to get out of this alive and we are all so relieved."

Mr Escott, 44, from Portsmouth, said his wife is looking forward to going paragliding again - despite the ordeal.

Portland Coastguard, which scrambled the search and rescue helicopter to airlift Mrs Escott to hospital, thanked divers who helped her out of the water.

They said a doctor and paramedic helped to stabilise her before she was airlifted.

Rescuers were also called out at the weekend to assist a 46-year-old man from Farnham in Surrey who had been paragliding and got stuck halfway down the cliff at Golden Cap near Charmouth.

A coastguard spokesman said: "Paragliding is still a relatively new sport. We would urge participants to bear in mind the weather conditions and consider the possibility that the wind might change.

"Also, be aware of where you are taking off from and where you will be coming back to."