04.07.2016

Crane jib saves paraglider

A young paraglider became entangled in a crane in Hollersbach, near Salzburg, Austria this weekend, after he lost control of his machine.

The man, 21, took off on his first solo flight from Sonnberg, North West Austria around 50 miles south of Salzburg, having acquired his flying licence just a week earlier.
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The man was left dangling while he waited to the rescue services

He ran into difficulties mid-flight and began to lose control of his equipment, with the parachute folding together as a result. After rapidly plummeting towards the ground, he had the good luck to come across a self-erecting tower crane, the parachute caught up on the crane’s jib and amazingly held firm, leaving him dangling around 25 metres above the ground.
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The Salzburg fire department was called out and arrived with a truck mounted work platform

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The man is rescued

The Salzburg fire department was called out and arrived with a truck mounted work platform to rescue the pilot from his precarious position. He was completely unhurt, apart from his pride, perhaps.