Paraglider 'happy' to be grounded after getting stuck

Rescuing aborist and paraglider Abe Laguna (left) helps retrieve an American paraglider. Photo / Otago Daily Times

"Cool, happy to be on the ground," is how a weary American paraglider said he felt after almost four hours stuck high in a pine above Queenstown yesterday.

Police, fire, St John, arborists and paragliders responded when American paraglider Cade Palmer, 28, of Queenstown, fell out of the sky and made a soft landing in a pine tree above the Kiwi Birdlife Park behind Queenstown Primary School about 1pm.

Constable Dan Andrew, of Queenstown, said the solo paraglider deployed his reserve parachute after he encountered problems with his main parachute. His main chute then caught in tree branches.

A helicopter was on stand by in case the man needed to be winched. However, it was feared the parachutes might catch the wind from the helicopter's down draft and blow Mr Palmer out of the tree, so other options were explored, Const Andrew said.

Fly Paragliding chief executive and co-owner Abe Laguna, who has flown for 15 years and been an arborist for 25, was working at the Coronet Peak jump site when he was asked by fellow pilots for help after the alarm was raised.

After police approval, Mr Laguna climbed the nearest tree to the stranded paraglider and threw a guide rope across the 10m gap to tether the man securely to the trunk.

Mr Laguna sent a sling across to slowly pully the paraglider down to the ground, the operation taking until 4.45pm.

The difficulty of unclipping the man from his gear because of its weight also took time.

G Force Paragliding co-director Guy McIntyre said he paraglided soon after Mr Palmer and saw him attempt an "Infinity" forward tumbling manoeuvre when "something happened" and he deployed his reserve parachute.

"Problem was, his main chute dragged behind him and snagged on a pine tree."

Mr McIntyre said Bob's Peak was popular among paragliders and was safe, "but it is for intermediate or advanced pilots."