GURLEY, Ala. — A paraglider is safe on the ground now, thanks to ALEA's Aviation Unit, after he was stuck in a tree in Gurley for about four hours Saturday.
ALEA says the Aviation Unit trains regularly for various types of search and rescue operations, but that this rescue was different from operations they've done so far.
“He was about 70 feet off the ground, hanging on to a tree limb estimated to be about 4 inches in diameter. He still had his parachute attached to his back, which made it much more challenging and required several attempts to extract him,” said Cpl. Smith, the mission’s tactical flight officer/hoist operator.
According to ALEA, it took four attempts to rescue the paraglider. During such missions, positioning is key, and a distance of 2 to 3 feet can make a huge difference, Cpl. Smith said.
The paraglider was safely taken to a nearby field where fire medics transported him to awaiting emergency medical personnel.
Cpl. Smith said once the man was safely pulled into the Huey, he expressed his gratitude and relief. “He was high fiving, fist bumping and hugging everybody,” he said.
The rescue was a multi-agency effort that included first responders on the ground from the Gurley Police Department, Huntsville Fire & Rescue, and Huntsvile Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
You can read more about the rescue here.
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