The body of an American paraglider who spiralled out of control and plunged into a B.C. river has been recovered.

John Clifford, 55, of Seattle, was competing in the Canadian National Paragliding Championships in Pemberton, B.C., about 150 km northeast of Vancouver, when he crash-landed into the Lillooet River around 5:30 p.m. Monday, the Whistler Question reports.

Event organizer Jim Orava told the newspaper Clifford continued flying even after the race was called off due to an approaching storm. When Clifford tried to land in a farmer's field, he was trapped by a gust of wind while at an altitude of approximately 50 metres and was hurled into the water while still attached to his glider harness, his family told the Question.

Emergency and search-and-rescue crews, as well as event participants and local residents, began an immediate search for Clifford. His body was pulled from the river late Tuesday afternoon.

The competition was expected to resume Wednesday.

Clifford is survived by his wife and five-year-old daughter, the report says.