CHELAN — A male hang glider was injured today when he crashed just after takeoff from the west side of Chelan Butte, a popular hang gliding launch area.

The unidentified man, in his late 30s or early 40s, was injured when his hang glider crashed about 75 feet downhill from the butte’s established launching area, said Sgt. Mike Harris of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. The accident occurred around 1:10 p.m.

Early reports from the accident scene said the hang glider received injuries to his neck which resulted in little or no feeling in his legs, Harris said.

Sheriff’s deputies and emergency fire crews answered the call for help, said Harris, and contacted Northwest MedStar for helicopter evacuation of the injured man to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.

The full extent of the man’s injuries hadn’t been determined, said Harris, but a neurosurgeon was requested to meet the MedStar flight at the hospital.