The National Sea Rescue Institute has expressed condolences to the family of an Irish tourist who died yesterday in a tandem paraglider accident in Sea Point. The deceased tourist has been identified as Munster Rugby’s Elite Performance Officer Greig Oliver.

The rescue body was called out to the scene at 16h28 on Monday, 3 July 2023. It deployed its personnel at NSRI Bakoven and NSRI Table Bay. At the same time, its ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) was also alerted.  The call for help they received was that a person or person/s was in the surfline opposite Sea Point High School.

He says 1 tandem paraglider reportedly landed safely and both the pilot and passenger were found to be not injured.

A second tandem paraglider deployed a reserve parachute and is believed to have landed in the surf, believed to be 200 to 300 meters off-shore of Sea Point Promenade.

 

READ FURTHER: Munster Rugby and the IRFU respond

 

Lambinon further stated, “NSRI rescue craft from NSRI Bakoven and from NSRI Table Bay, NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad responded. Also at the scene, was City of Cape Town (CoCT) Law Enforcement, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services.”

He says, when the rescuers arrived on the scene, the adult male pilot of the tandem paraglider (that had deployed the reserve parachute) was safely on the shore. He was treated for minor injuries. The tandem passenger, a 58-year-old Irish man, was on the rocks in the water, off-shore of the Sea Point Promenade.

“NSRI rescue swimmers and paramedics reached the man and he was freed from paragliding gear and recovered onto rocks where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced. Despite extensive CPR efforts, he was sadly declared deceased by paramedics,” he added.

The body of the man was recovered to the shoreline and taken into the care of the Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. The NSRI has conveyed its condolences to the family of the deceased man. At the same time, an Inquest docket has been opened by the Police.

Meanwhile, World Rugby has confirmed the death of Munster Rugby Elite Performance Officer Greig Oliver in yesterday’s paragliding accident.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “On behalf of World Rugby and the global rugby family, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the Oliver family, the Ireland U20 squad and the Irish rugby community at this difficult time.