Dharamsala News/Free flyer British paraglider crashed dead near Dharamsala

Dharamsala, November 19, 2013: A  free flyer British paraglider  Richard Samson (45) ,who had gone missing on Sunday  while flying close to Dhouladhar snow ranges near Dharamsala was found dead after crashing into the Manadhar hills near Thathri village some 8 kilometers from Dharamsala town on Tuesday.
The search and rescue operation was launched on Monday but his body could be retrieved today.
Staying in a Hotel in Bhagsunath near Mecleodganj in Dharamsala, Richard Samson had flown from Billing Valley on Sunday to Dharamsala and was scheduled to return on Monday.
“He went missing on Monday soon after the take-off. His friends filed a missing report with the local police while a rescue team from Bir- Billing area also arrived here. The search and rescue operation was launched yesterday but his body could be retrieved today only,” said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kangra, Mohit Chawla.  
He told that postmortem of the body was conducted in the Dharamsala hospital and deceased’s family members and British High Commission has been informed accordingly.
Meanwhile, sources told that though, the British National possessed a valid passport but had overstayed his visa.
“The matter is still investigation and it is premature to say that he had overstayed the visa. We are searching for other documents in his place of stay at Bir area also ,” told Chawla.
Earlier, two paraglider pilots have lost their lives while flying over Dhauladhar range. A Russian pilot, Alexey Ashurov had died in a crash landing on 23 October 2009. His body was retrieved by a local shepherd after nine months. Another pilot, Oel Kitchen from England, went missing after taking off from Bir in April 2002. Last seen flying near cloud his body has never been found.