A sub-Saharan migrant has died while attempting to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on a paraglider.

It is the territory’s first-ever recorded fatality involving the dangerous method.

The Guardia Civil recovered the man’s body on Friday morning after he fell into the water during the attempted crossing.

According to the force, officers spotted the migrant at around 8am flying from the mountains around Benzu, on Ceuta’s northern coast, apparently intending to land near the border.

However, he is believed to have lost control of the paraglider before reaching the city and plunged into the sea.

Officers rushed to the scene in the hope of rescuing him, but he had already died by the time they arrived.

His body was later taken to the Guardia Civil’s Maritime Service facilities, where he was identified as a young man of sub-Saharan origin.

The Guardia Civil said isolated attempts by migrants to enter Ceuta using paragliders have been recorded since last year, particularly among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

The force warned that the method has already resulted in several accidents, largely because those attempting the crossings often have little or no experience flying the aircraft.

Friday’s death is believed to be the first fatality in Ceuta linked to an attempted irregular entry by paraglider.

Authorities say they are continuing to monitor the emerging tactic, which they warn carries an extremely high risk for those attempting the crossing.