A 47-year-old German national was killed in a Lionshead paragliding accident in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Wilderness Search and Rescue Western Cape
- A 47-year-old German national has died from injuries sustained in a paragliding accident in Lions Head, Cape Town.
- The South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association says paragliding is a safe and rewarding leisure activity.
- Cape Town Tourism says Paragliding is considered a safe activity, but there are always risks associated with it.
Western Cape Police have launched an investigation into the death of a 47-year-old German national following a paragliding accident in Cape Town’s Lions Head on Tuesday.
Police spokesman Capt. Frederick van Wyk said: “The deceased foreigner passed away at a nearby hospital on Wednesday morning. Investigations are continuing.”
Western Cape health spokesman Maret Lesch confirmed to News24 that the man died of his injuries in a Cape Town hospital.
South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SAHPA) president Louis Stanford said the death of the experienced solo recreational pilot was unfortunate and an investigation would be conducted.
Pilots are members of SAHPA.
The Air Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC) coordinated the rescue and transported the injured man to a hospital, according to Stanford.
“While paragliding is a fun and relatively safe recreational activity, it also has inherent risks for which pilots must be prepared. Future pilots are encouraged to attend approved schools. The South African paragliding community wishes to close friends and The family expresses their sympathy,” he said.
ARCC Director Gregory Critchley said they were notified of the incident and immediately activated the necessary stakeholders, which included Cape Town Metro EMS, SAPS Rescue, South African Mountain Club, West Cape SARZA, WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue Resource), and ER24.
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“The South Australian Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) was also activated, airlifting the glider from the scene to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. [We] Thank you to all the healthcare workers, professional rescuers, and organizations that responded and assisted in this complex and demanding rescue operation. Our thoughts are with Paraglider and his family during this difficult time,” Critchley said.
Stanford University said it was the first serious accident since the pilot’s speeding accident at Lion’s Head in 2021.
Unconfirmed reports said a German national was involved in Tuesday’s accident.
The German consulate in Cape Town said it had been informed of the incident.
it says:
We will not comment on this incident unless we are aware of it and the German Consulate General in Cape Town is providing any assistance that may be required.
Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) spokesman David Nel said a rescue helicopter was flown to the scene of the accident and hoisted onto the patient.
“He was placed on a stretcher and transported a short distance from the scene with rescuers. The short-haul technique involved hoisting the rescue team a short distance from a special sling or rope underneath the helicopter,” Nel said. When they arrived at the scene, ER2 said they found the man trapped between two large rocks and being attended to by bystanders. He was assessed by paramedics and found he was in a critical condition with serious head injuries.
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“[He]He was treated and provided with advanced life support interventions before being airlifted by an AMS medical helicopter to Groote Schuur Hospital for emergency care. The exact details surrounding the incident are unclear,” added spokeswoman Russell Merlin.
Meanwhile, Cape Town Tourism chief executive Enver Duminy said they were saddened to hear about the incident.
“While paragliding is considered a safe activity, it always carries risks, which is why Cape Town Paragliding has a strict compensation process. As the exact cause of the incident is unknown, we should treat it as Isolate the incident until the Civil Aviation Authority has completed its investigation,” he said.
We would like to thank all first responders who helped with this complex and arduous operation. “
