A MICROLIGHT pilot from Ellesmere Port had a miracle escape after he clipped a tree coming into land at a field in Chester.

Frequent flyer Anthony Swannick, 64, owner of Little Sutton-based Astralite Aerials, and his 52-year-old wife were coming in to land too high and attempted to bank around when they clipped a tree and plummeted into the field at Guy Lane Farm, Waverton, at about 6.40pm last Wednesday.

Farmer Ed Walley, who owns the field which is next to the Crocky Trail and helped pull the couple from the wreckage, said: “He was very lucky. They clipped a tree coming in and there was extensive damage to the aircraft.”

Microlights, a modern flexwing aircraft which commonly have two seats, cost more than £25,000 and reach speeds of more than 80 mph.

Cheshire police, Cheshire Fire and Rescue and Northwest Ambulance service attended the accident.

“A 64-year-old man suffered fractured arms and injuries to his leg, chest face and hands, a 52-year-old woman who was a rear seat passenger received minor injuries,” said a Northwest Ambulance Service spokesperson.

“The pair were pulled out by occupants at the farm and treated at the scene before being taken to the Countess of Chester hospital.”

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “There were two passengers, a male pilot and his wife.

“They were coming in too high and went to bank around when they clipped a tree and the accident happened.

“The crashed into a field to the rear of Guy Lane farm.

“Both the pilot and passengers were out of the microlight when we arrived and receiving first aid treatment from paramedics.”

Cheshire police spokeswoman Shelley Williams confirmed that the matter has now been referred to the Civil Aviation Authority.