A MAN has been airlifted to hospital after a freak accident with a kite.

The man, thought to be a 20-year-old from St Peter's in Worcester, was swept off his feet and 20 feet into the air when a gust of wind caught the kite he was flying.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called after he crashed to the ground and injured his back in Bestman's Lane, Kempsey, near Worcester, at around 3pm on Sunday.

A spokesman for the service said: "The initial report suggested that the man had been lifted as much as 20 feet into the air by the three-metre kite. He had landed on his face and was complaining of severe back pain.

"He was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being airlifted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for assessment and treatment."

A rapid response vehicle was at the scene within six minutes, backed up by the air ambulance from Strensham.

Justin Pugh, manager of Extreme Kite, in Sidbury, Worcester, said kiting accidents were relatively rare.

He said: "What happened is just a freak gust of wind catching him off guard, I think.

"It's not something that happens to people often. I have no doubt that he was wearing the right safety equipment but maybe the kite was just too big for the day."

Worcester News weatherman Paul Damari said: "You can get squally or twisting gusts of winds and all day on Sunday we had gusts up to 50mph. Those strong winds twist and pull and lift upwards."