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Paragliding near the Golan Heights
Photo: Hagai Aharon

Paraglider lands in minefield

Man forced to perform emergency landing, falls in minefield south of Golan Heights

A paraglider was forced to perform an emergency landing over the Golan Heights and fell in a minefield, police and rescue workers said.

 

He was moderately injured and large rescue teams launched an operation to save him.

 

Not aware that his friend had landed in a minefield, a fellow paraglider landed in the field to help the injured man. The two were rescued by helicopter.

 

At around 11 a.m. the man took off near kibbutz Mavo Hama, and shortly after takeoff he noticed a malfunction in his parachute.

 

He was forced to land in a minefield south of the Golan Heights.

 

Malfunction in parachute  

"Rescue services located his landing site. We are in contact with him. He is conscious but suffered complex injuries to the legs. An anti-landmine team, which incorporates army and rescue people, were called to the scene. The rescue will take a long time," said Yair Elyakim of the Golan Rescue Service.

 

Police confirmed that a malfunction in the parachute ended the man's paragliding trip and said an investigation into the causes to the malfunction has been launched.

 

Superintendent Eli Silouk said the man landed "hundreds of meters" from a take-off platform favored by paragliders and added that policemen and paramedics were in constant contact with him during rescue efforts.

 

He said the paraglider complained of excruciating pain in the legs.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.02.06, 13:41
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