The man, 41, was in a group of six friends paragliding over Forresters Beach and police said he lost control attempting an emergency landing into a nearby paddock just after 2pm.

All members of the group were thought to be experienced paragliders, and they had launched into their final flight from Cromarty Hill near Bateau Bay after being in the air most of the day since 8am.

Police said the man’s partner had been paragliding with him when he spiralled to the ground.

Weather conditions had deteriorated just before the man fell and the group had been buffeted by strong wind, police said.

Paramedics tried to revive the man on the ground, but he died at the scene.

Forensic service group officers examined the scene, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The crash occurred just south of the scene of a 2008 paragliding accident.