Australian paraglider rescued after 20 hours

A 51-year-old Australian paraglider pilot had a miraculous escape after surviving nearly 20 hours stranded on a 13,500-foot-high mountain in Himachal Pradesh’s Manalsu region near Manali. The pilot’s paraglider reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight while attempting to cross a high-altitude ridge between Manali and Bir, forcing him to make a hard landing on a narrow, rocky ledge.

The incident occurred on Monday evening near the Seven Sisters Peak. Fortunately, another paraglider flying nearby witnessed the crash and immediately alerted authorities, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation.

The Bir Paragliding Association quickly coordinated with the Adventure Tour Operators Association (ATOA), Manali, to launch an emergency mission. A ground team was dispatched late at night to scale the treacherous slopes and reach the stranded pilot. However, dense forest, steep terrain, and darkness made the task nearly impossible, forcing rescuers to halt until first light.

At dawn, a helicopter was deployed to assist the mission. After several challenging aerial manoeuvres, the pilot — injured and trapped in a perilous position — was successfully airlifted to safety. He was transported to Mission Hospital in Manali, where doctors confirmed that he is out of danger and recovering well.

“This was one of our most difficult rescues to date,” said Ramesh Kumar Jogi, rescue team in-charge from ATOA. “The pilot was battling between life and death for almost 20 hours in extremely hostile conditions.” Karan Veer Singh, head of Search and Rescue Operations at the Bir Paragliding Association, credited the successful outcome to precise coordination and teamwork between the two associations.

The incident, while ending safely, highlights the pressing need for a stronger, better-coordinated emergency response network to ensure the safety of paragliders exploring the challenging Himalayan skies.