Shocking moment when turbulent winds sent paraglider hurtling into dense forest in terrifying crash
- last year
This shocking video shows the moment turbulent winds sent a paraglider hurtling into a dense forest at speed in a terrifying crash.
Eric Démarez, 60, was attempting to land when the incident happened.
Eric, an experienced paraglider, had been looking to land for several minutes, but kept getting stuck in rising currents of wind.
Eventually, Eric managed to find a place he could descend but went too low.
Despite beginning to lose control, Eric still attempted to reach his landing spot, but was unable to make it in time.
The wind over the Bauges mountains, near Chambéry, France, was too turbulent and partially closed his parachute, sending him crashing into the trees.
Eric's camera captured the entire incident on video, where he can be seen crashing into trees, which branches slowing down his freefall, before hitting the ground.
Miraculously, Eric was not seriously injured and he was able to return to his car with no issue.
He suffered an internal muscle injury to his tibia.
Eric, a radiographer from Lille, France, explained: "The weather conditions were strong for me, so I tried to land but I was unable to go down.
"When I finally found a place with no updraft, I went down too low. I still tried to reach the landing field.
"I then crossed a very turbulent area. My wing partially closed, I didn't react correctly, I lost control and I ended up in the trees.
"I was in a dangerous area, where I should not have been. I was exhausted and did not control my kite movements well.
"It was very fast, I did not understand anything, I don't remember ever being really scared. It was too fast.
"A similar fall near a cliff or on a rocky area could have been fatal, luckily, I passed through the trees, taking some branches with me.
"I was able to retrieve my wing, untangle my gear and return to my car...Limping!
The crash occurred on July 5, 2022.
Eric Démarez, 60, was attempting to land when the incident happened.
Eric, an experienced paraglider, had been looking to land for several minutes, but kept getting stuck in rising currents of wind.
Eventually, Eric managed to find a place he could descend but went too low.
Despite beginning to lose control, Eric still attempted to reach his landing spot, but was unable to make it in time.
The wind over the Bauges mountains, near Chambéry, France, was too turbulent and partially closed his parachute, sending him crashing into the trees.
Eric's camera captured the entire incident on video, where he can be seen crashing into trees, which branches slowing down his freefall, before hitting the ground.
Miraculously, Eric was not seriously injured and he was able to return to his car with no issue.
He suffered an internal muscle injury to his tibia.
Eric, a radiographer from Lille, France, explained: "The weather conditions were strong for me, so I tried to land but I was unable to go down.
"When I finally found a place with no updraft, I went down too low. I still tried to reach the landing field.
"I then crossed a very turbulent area. My wing partially closed, I didn't react correctly, I lost control and I ended up in the trees.
"I was in a dangerous area, where I should not have been. I was exhausted and did not control my kite movements well.
"It was very fast, I did not understand anything, I don't remember ever being really scared. It was too fast.
"A similar fall near a cliff or on a rocky area could have been fatal, luckily, I passed through the trees, taking some branches with me.
"I was able to retrieve my wing, untangle my gear and return to my car...Limping!
The crash occurred on July 5, 2022.