Crash into fire

Paragliding pilot breaks two vertebrae

On Monday, a 55-year-old paragliding pilot crashed from a height of around 50 meters in Brandnertal. The man suffered serious injuries on impact in the steep terrain.

At around 12.25 pm, the highly experienced paraglider took off from the mountain station of the Gulmabahn towards the center of Brand. While the pilot was circling at an altitude of around 50 meters, his glider suddenly collapsed - probably due to a thermal bubble. 

The 55-year-old pilot quickly lost altitude due to the turbulence and eventually crashed. On impact in the steep terrain, he broke two vertebrae and also suffered a fracture to his right thigh. After first aid by the mountain rescuers who had rushed to the scene, the seriously injured man was flown to Feldkirch Regional Hospital by the emergency helicopter "Gallus 2".