A 26-YEAR-OLD Coniston man is critically ill after crashing onto a beach while kite surfing off the Cumbrian coast, north of Millom.

The incident happened on Monday (May 28) when Cumbria Police said a gust of wind had reportedly swept the man around 40ft into the air and he had then fallen down onto the sand.

The man suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to Furness General Hospital before being transferred to Hope Hospital in Manchester, where his condition is described as critical but stable.