Paragliders collide

HELICOPTER AND PARAMEDICS CALLED TO SCENE

A MAJOR rescue operation was launced in Glencree on Good Friday following a paragliding crash involving two men.

The pilot and passenger in a tandem glider crashed into the hills, according to eyewitness Fred Lahiff of Paraglide Adventure, a company that offers paragliding courses in the area but which was not responsible for the ill-fated flight.

Mr Lahiff explained that Lough Bray is a popular gliding spot for other groups and individual users as well as those taking lessons there from his own company, and that the area was very busy on Friday.

Both men who were involved in the accident are from Dublin. They were brought to hospital and released shortly afterwards. The pilot suffered a broken arm and the passenger was unharmed. The exact cause of the collision ‘remains to be seen,’ said Fred who said that there will be an investigation. He said he knows the pilot from paragliding circles. ‘Happily, nobody was seriously injured,’ he added.

This occurred on Friday evening at around 5 p.m. near the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. A spokesperson there said that their staff did not witness the accident. They were aware of it and some rescue personnel came in to the centre that evening.

Gardai from Bray Garda Station and other emergency services launched a massive joint operation to rescue the victims of the accident.

A Coastguard helicopter, paramedics and the fire brigade were all involved in the search and rescue operation as well as the Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team.

There were over a dozen people in the mountainous area between Glencree and Kippure to participate in the activity that evening during perfect conditions for hang gliding and paragliding.

An investigation into the gliding incident has been launched by the Air Accident Investigation Unit. They will prepare a report released on the circumstances when the investigation is complete.