UPDATE 11.00am
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A FRENCH national has died following a hang gliding accident near Mt Cole, about 30 kilometres east of Ararat.
The man, reportedly part of a group hang gliding for the day, came down in heavy bushland in the Mount Cole National Park around 2pm on Saturday and was pronounced dead shortly after.
Victoria police spokesperson Leading Senior Constable Lee Thomson confirmed the 51-year-old had died at the scene.
Leading Senior Constable Thomson said police would prepare a report for the coroner to establish the sequence of events surrounding the man's death.
The man reportedly hit trees after launching from Mt Ben Nevis, which is a popular spot for hang gliders.
Ambulance Victoria spokesperson John Mullen said three units - one from Ararat and Beaufort and a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) - attended the scene near Ben Nevis Road, Eversley, along with an air ambulance.
Police and State Emergency Service (SES) crews also attended the scene.
SES mid-west duty officer Peter Keppel said 12 SES volunteers, some of which had high-angle rescue skills, assisted police with the operation to carry out the deceased from the state forest.