A paraglider has told of the terrifying moment a debilitating migraine caused her to crash on to a beach after her vision became impaired.

Jane Hallett, 53 and from Bridport, was paragliding at Eype when, suddenly, ‘everything went blurry’ and she crashed on to the beach.

She broke her back in the fall, but says she was lucky not to have been paralysed – and has thanked the emergency services who worked together to help her.

Speaking of the ordeal, Jane said: “I was having a lovely flight before I decided to land. My vision went blurry and it looked like the ground was right below me. I pulled the brakes thinking I was going to land – but I was still about 40ft in the air. I felt so confused and could not figure out what had happened in that moment – then came the pain. It was horrendous pain.”

Shocked onlookers, including three other paragliders, rushed to Jane’s aid and emergency services, including coastguard teams from West Bay and Lyme Regis and Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance, were called to Eype beach last Wednesday evening.

“The emergency services were fantastic,” said Jane. “They came so quickly. It was all very surreal and very scary, but I remember lots of different faces in my vision and they worked so well together to make sure I was okay. It makes me feel quite emotional thinking about it - I can’t thank them enough.

“They worked so efficiently for me that day and potentially saved my mobility. We are so lucky to have these services.”

Jane, who has been paragliding for four years, was taken to Dorset County Hospital for further treatment and is now resting at home, being looked after by her three children. She hopes to one day re-join the paragliding community – should her health allow it.

“Some people have this idea that paragliding is irresponsible,” said Jane. “But it is not irresponsible or reckless. It is relatively safe and not something people do for an adrenaline rush. The majority of people take it very, very seriously and I felt so guilty after this happened that it would have a negative impact on the reputation of paragliding.

“I have thought long and hard, and with three children and my own business I cannot afford to be reckless. But, given time, rest and recuperation and my health allows, I would absolutely love to re-join the community of paragliders.”