‘Human swan’ climate campaigner Sacha Dench injured and support worker killed in paramotor crash in Scotland

She was flying anticlockwise around mainland Britain

Sacha Dench, who was attempting a world-first circumnavigation of mainland Britain to raise awareness about climate change, has been seriously injured and Dan Burton, a member of her support staff, has been killed after a paramotor accident in the western Highlands of Scotland during their challenge.

Ms Dench had been attempting to make the 3,000-mile journey to mark the Cop26 UN climate change conference.

In a statement, the trustees of Conservation Without Borders said the accident happened in the western Highlands of Scotland near Loch Na Gainmhich.

The statement said: “We are very sorry to have to confirm that Dan Burton, the support paramotorist, has died as a result of the accident. Sacha Dench is seriously injured and is being treated in hospital. Her injuries are serious but not life threatening

“Both highly experienced paramotorists, our thoughts are with the family of Dan Burton, to whom we offer our sincere condolences.

“The incident was attended by police and medics and inquiries are under way to establish the details of the accident.”

Police also issued a statement saying there had been a mid-air collision.

A spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a 54-year-old man has died and a woman has been seriously injured following a collision involving two paramotors.

“Police were informed about the incident near by the A894 shortly before 16:45 and inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing. The next of kin of those involved have been informed.”

Ms Dench began her journey from Glasgow in June.

The Australian lost her family home to the country’s bushfires last year and has since turned her focus to campaigning about climate change.

Previously asked why she has decided to take to the skies in an electric-powered paramotor, she said: “I’m doing it to try and demonstrate just how far we can go in terms of decarbonising our transport and our lifestyles in general.”

She went on to say: “I think can show us that whilst Britain drove the industrial revolution, we can drive the green revolution too.”