Hang-Glider Death: 'Eaten' Evidence Retrieved

Canadian police say they have retrieved the memory card allegedly swallowed by the pilot involved in a hang-gliding tragedy in which a young woman plunged to her death.

The video camera recorded the events leading to the death of Lenami Godinez-Avila, who died last Saturday during a hang-gliding trip with her boyfriend in British Columbia.

Ms Godinez-Avila, 27, tumbled out of her harness only seconds after take-off, while her boyfriend - who was waiting for his turn - watched.

Hang-glider pilot Jon Orders has been held in custody following the allegations he swallowed the card.

When police announced the charge on Monday, they said Orders was accused of withholding key evidence.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in court that X-rays showed the card was inside Orders' body.

Police have not provided any further details about when the card was consumed or how police learned about it.

"We have processes in place in order to try to extract what's been on the card that will not be further discussed at the moment," said police Constable Tracy Wolbeck.

Orders is a fully-certified hang-gliding pilot and instructor who has been flying around the world for 16 years.

His business website, Vancouver Hang Gliding, boasts that photos and video are available when people purchase a tandem hang-gliding trip.

Jason Warner, safety officer for the Hang Gliders and Paragliders Association of Canada, said that he spoke with Orders minutes after Ms Godinez-Avila fell from the glider.

Mr Warner said Orders told him he knew something was wrong almost immediately and tried to hang on to the woman.

Ms Wolbeck said police are focusing on answering questions from Ms Godinez-Avila's family.

"They've come to Canada in search of answers," Ms Wolbeck said of the woman's relatives from Mexico.

Police said they have seized video taken by Ms Godinez-Avila's boyfriend on the ground.

The flight was a present from the boyfriend who initially filmed the event but stopped when it became clear something was wrong and she was not properly strapped in.

The young woman's body was found in a forest clearing below Mount Woodside, a popular spot for hang-gliders to launch from.

Witnesses said she fell 984ft (300m) to her death.

Ms Godinez-Avila clung to Orders' body and then slipped down his legs, taking one of his shoes with her.