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| Soldier dies in paragliding crash | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A British soldier has been killed in a paragliding crash during a military training exercise in Spain. | |
| Major Alex Blake, of Gwent, is thought to have died instantly when he crashed into a tree in Cenes de la Vega resort, in the Granada region, on Wednesday. | |
| The Ministry of Defence described the death of the 35-year-old soldier from the Royal Logistic Corps as tragic. | |
| It is thought he crashed after attempting a manoeuvre in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. | |
| Maj Blake, a father of two, was an ammunition technical officer and had recently returned from operational duty in Iraq. | |
| All who met him were touched by his friendliness, charm, infectious enthusiasm and thirst for adventure Major Dave Wilson | |
| He had also served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo. | |
| Major Dave Wilson, the chairman of the Army Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, said he was "numb with grief" over the death of his friend. | |
| "He was always upbeat and buoyant with an endearing nature and caring character," he said. | |
| It is thought the soldier died instantly | |
| "In all the time I have known him I rarely saw him without his trademark smile. | |
| "All who met him were touched by his friendliness, charm, infectious enthusiasm and thirst for adventure." | |
| Maj Wilson said his thoughts were with Maj Blake's wife, Vicki, and children, Tom and Lola. | |
| Cenes de la Vega is a popular resort for hang-gliding and paragliding. | Cenes de la Vega is a popular resort for hang-gliding and paragliding. |