Fatality after paragliders reportedly collide in Sea Point, Cape Town

At 16h28, Monday, 3 July, NSRI Bakoven and NSRI Table Bay were activated following reports of a tandem paraglider accident in Sea Point with a person or person/s in the surfline opposite Sea Point High School.

ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) was alerted.

It appears that 2 tandem paragliders may have collided in the air above the Sea Point Promenade.

One tandem paraglider reportedly landed safely and both the pilot and passenger were found to be not injured.

A second tandem paraglider reportedly deployed a reserve parachute and is believed to have landed in the surf approximately (believed to be) 200 to 300 meters off-shore of Sea Point Promenade.

NSRI rescue craft from NSRI Bakoven and from NSRI Table Bay, NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, City of Cape Town (CoCT) Law Enforcement, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded.

On arrival on the scene the adult male pilot of the tandem paraglider (that had reportedly deployed the reserve parachute) was safely on the shore and he was treated for minor injuries. The tandem passenger, a 58 year old Irish man, was on rocks in the water off-shore of the Sea Point Promenade.

NSRI rescue swimmers and paramedics reached the man and he was freed from paragliding gear and recovered onto rocks where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced.

Despite extensive CPR efforts he was sadly declared deceased by paramedics.

The body of the man was recovered to the shoreline and taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.

An Inquest docket has been opened by Police.