A motorized paraglider plunged into the ocean off Singer Island in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Friday, Jan. 9, after a gust of wind caused part of the canopy to collapse. Remarkably, the 52‑year‑old pilot walked away uninjured after the craft struck the water about 500 feet below, authorities said.
The Riviera Beach Police Department (RBPD) said the man, a resident of Pompano Beach, had taken off from Ocean Cay Park in Jupiter and was flying south when his powered paraglider "dropped out of the sky." Video shared by RBPD on Facebook shows the canopy failing and the glider spiraling toward the ocean as beachgoers watch in alarm.
Quick Response and Civilian Help
Beachgoers swam out to the scene and a snorkeler who was nearby helped free the pilot from the tangled craft while Riviera Beach Ocean Rescue and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) teams, along with local police, made their way to the landing site.
Riviera Beach Police Department FacebookParaglider fell into the ocean off Ocean Reef Park in Florida on Jan. 9
"Five hundred feet is an incredible thing to survive," lifeguard Sarah Williamson of PBCFR told local station WFLX. She described rushing into the water with a rescue tube and rescue board and bringing the man back to shore. "He was full of shock and adrenaline," she said.
PBCFR told NBC 6 South Florida that a gust of wind caused part of the parachute to collapse, leading the pilot to lose control. The RBPD video and multiple local reports credit a combination of bystanders and professional rescuers for the swift, successful response.
The pilot's name has not been released. PEOPLE reported on the incident and said it had contacted RBPD for additional comment.
No injuries were reported. Authorities continue to review the circumstances, but the quick actions of nearby swimmers and rescue personnel were key to the safe outcome.
