Tourist terror as blunder sees him cling on for life

A NOVICE hang-glider had to cling on for dear life after his pilot forgot to attach him before take-off.

Chris Gursky’s miracle survival was caught on camera in footage he posted to YouTube.

The tourist managed to hold on for more than two minutes after take-off from a 4,000ft mountain edge in Switzerland.

Seconds after launch, the American realised he was not attached.

Rough

Sharing the video, he wrote: “My first time Hang Gliding turned into a near death experience as my safety harness was never hooked to the glider. For 2 Min. 14 seconds I had to hang on for my life!

“The landing was a rough one, but I lived to tell the story.”

At one point, the Florida auto-parts manager lost grip before grabbing the instructor’s back just in time.

He then managed to clutch the pilot’s trouser leg as the pilot frantically steered them lower.

Mr Gursky said: “I remember looking down and thinking, this is it.

“The pilot grabbed my hand, but like in the movies it was a slow-motion slip until my right hand slipped off.”

He tore his bicep tendon and had to have a titanium plate and seven screws inserted in his wrist – but he is already planning his next flight.