An Austrian paraglider was rescued after he landed on a remote mountainside near Genadendal at the weekend.
According to the Wilderness Search and Rescue(WSAR), the 49-year-old paraglider launched from Rusty Gate Mountain Retreat, on the mountain pass between Villiersdorp and Greyton, on Saturday, and had already covered approximately 153 km in just over two hours when changing conditions forced him to deploy his emergency parachute mid-flight and hard land on the mountainside.
WSAR spokesperson David Nel says that after a hard landing on the mountainside, the paraglider was fortunately able to make contact using his cellphone and call for assistance.
“Challenging flying conditions in the area prevented the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) helicopter from reaching the patient directly,” added Nel
The rescue team was instead inserted higher up on the ridge and made their way down on foot to reach him.
Once on scene, the patient was assessed and treated by a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic before being carefully assisted to a safer location.
The paraglider was reportedly hoisted from the mountainside and flown to a nearby landing zone, where he was transferred to an ambulance and transported to the hospital for further medical treatment.
