Microlight pilot Roger Huyshe, from Hinstock, who crashed into trees at Chirk Airfield.

A Shropshire microlight pilot narrowly cheated death after strong gusts slammed his aircraft into trees and a live power cable.

Roger Huyshe, 61, of Hinstock, said he was “very lucky” to escape with only bruising after the crash at Chirk airfield on the Shropshire/Welsh border.

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Airfield staff and firefighters had to use a ladder to rescue Mr Huyshe from his aircraft which was wedged high in the trees after the incident yesterday afternoon.

Paramedics were called to check over Mr Huyshe, who works in computer security, and workers from Scottish Power were called to seal off the energy supply to the cable he had crashed into.

Mr Huyshe, who has been flying for four years and had taken off from Otherton airfield, near Stafford, said he was fortunate to be able to walk away from the crash which happened at 1.40pm and involved his flexi wing Gemini Alpha microlight.

He said: “I was preparing to land at the aircraft when I felt the wind really pick up and it became very turbulent.

“In retrospect I should have gone around again or just flown back to where I had come from but I tried to land.

“I was about 20 feet off the ground when the gusts just picked up and within seconds I had been blown to my right side and into the trees.

“I was very lucky because I could have struck nearby buildings.

“I crashed into the tree and onto the power cable but apart from a sore chest I was unhurt.”

The pilot said the near death scrape would not put him off flying.

Airfield worker Ian Pierce said: “I was watching him come in and I could tell he was a bit low. The wind was gusting and he just veered off into the trees.

“We ran over and climbed the tree to see if he was hurt.

“The fire brigade arrived and I helped him out of his aircraft and down the ladder. He was very lucky.

“He could have been really badly hurt but the trees helped to cushion him,” added Mr Pierce.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch had been informed.

By Iain St John