Another paraglider crashes in Oslob town

ANOTHER paraglider crashed in the mountain after losing altitude while flying in Barangay Poblacion, Oslob town, southern Cebu around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2023.

The incident happened almost a year after the paragliding activity was suspended due to the death of American paraglider Peter Clifford Humes, 63, an education and safety director of Paraglide Tandem International, on May 15, 2022.

Initial investigation by the police revealed that pilot error caused Humes' death.

In Sunday’s incident, New Zealander Ronald Anthony Daryl Sharp, 72, who is temporarily staying in Barangay Hagdan, Oslob, sustained a fracture in his left arm.

Police Captain Allen June Hermodo, Deputy Chief of Oslob Police Station, said in an interview with SunStar Cebu that Sharp was flying at a height of 50 meters above the ground when he crashed into the mountain.

Hermodo said the victim lost altitude as the wind slowed down, causing the modified parachute to fall.

"Basta mohinay ang hangin, dili kaayo kasaka paglupad, mao nga miti-urok sa bakilid nga bukid, baton. Natukod ang kamot, nabali," said Captain Hermodo.

(As long as the wind slows down, it (paraglide) can’t fly high, that's why it landed on the rocky mountain slope. He extended his arm upon landing, causing it to break.)

The victim, a professional paraglider, was with three other companions who reported the incident to the police around 3 p.m. of the same day.

Hermodo said they immediately conducted a search and rescue operation together with personnel of the Bureau of Fire and Protection, Philippine Coast Guard and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and found the foreigner later at 7 p.m.

Hermodo said it took them long to track the location of the victim as they had to walk on a narrow and bushy path before reaching the crash site, which is steep and rocky.

He said they put the victim on a stretcher and lowered him down. (GPL, TPT)