Rapid Response Paragliding Accident

On 8 May 2008 Francois came in for a toplanding on our local Auckland flying site Glover Park (aka the "G-Spot"). Toplanding here is always difficult, but especially so when the wind is due North. This day it was... When the wind is due North a very stable (but vicious) rotor establishes just behind the cliff, exactly where we topland. It is very well possible to safely topland here and even use the rotor to slowly push you down. I came in first and landed fine, but one minute later Francois came in and hit some bad turbulence caused by the rotor. He didn't even come in that fast, he was just very unlucky...

Francois is flying again after a long recovery and still buzzing after some wicked wingovers!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• paragliding
• parapente
• parapent
• parapendio
• accident
• crash
• broken bone
• rapid response
• bone sticking out
• glover park
• auckland
• new zealand

[parapenteHans]

Why did they cut of his hair and mustache during operation?

[mverhagen]

Haha, yes, that was a prank by the Kiwi doctors. They asked him if they could shave his head while he was high on the Ketamine. "Of course!" he said... ;o)

[meeksdigital]

@mverhagen hahaha that's awesome

[commandro]

I have a question to somebody who knows if wearing high heal boots have prevented this injury or not, or maybe even worsened it by diverting the energy to higher body areas; knee-joint, thigh or even back

any information on this is welcome

for your info im always waring full face helmet, and high heel boots when im hooked to a paraglider, even when groundhandling (yes im a wuss, so i dont have to act brave when im lying on the ground with open bone injury)

[dorbie]

@lgarvey Posibly an open fracture. That doesn't look pretty. Even the appearance of a closed fracture can make some people queasy.

[lgarvey]

This is like watching Japenese pron. They pixellated his leg - is this where he keeps his gentials?

[CombatPara]

alright, i should have watched till the end... lee sucks...

[CombatPara]

so what did he do? I bet there were gusts coming through and he stalled it, didn't he - or rotors???