I fell 9,000ft & LIVED after my paraglider wing collapsed during a flight… but I can't wait to get back in the sky
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A GRANDAD has told how his paraglider's wing collapsed 9,000ft above the French Alps.
Retired counter-terrorism cop Steve Barnett, 57, flew into a storm cloud, saturating his glider.
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Steve Barnett, 57, has told how his paraglider's wing collapsed 9,000ft above the French Alps
Credit: SWNS
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Steve flew into a storm cloud, saturating his glider
Credit: Stephen Barnett / SWNS
5
Steve was sent falling 30ft through trees and broke his pelvis when he hit the ground at 40mph
Credit: Stephen Barnett / SWNS
The wing caved under the weight of water as he tried an emergency landing — sending him falling 30ft through trees.
Steve broke his pelvis when he hit the ground at 40mph.
He called fellow paraglider Matt Roach, 47, for help.
The pal, in the air at the time, tracked him down and alerted a rescue helicopter.
Steve was airlifted from Passy, in south eastern France, to a hospital near the Italian border.
He was allowed to head home to Seaford, East Sussex, just two days later.
Steve recalled: 'There was a big cloud and I started hearing a pitter patter on the wing.
"It came down heavier.
'Then all I could hear was this snapping, crackling and rippling.
"I bounced on the ground and rolled.
Shock vid shows half-frozen paraglider who was sucked 5 MILES into sky by vortex & left shivering in -40C conditions
'It was like someone had kicked me really hard.'
Unfazed, he added: 'I can't wait to get back into the sky.'
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Steve called fellow paraglider Matt Roach for help
Credit: Stephen Barnett / SWNS
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Steve spent two days in hospital and now says 'I can't wait to get back into the sky'
Credit: SWNS
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I fell 9,000ft & LIVED after my paraglider wing collapsed during a flight… but I can't wait to get back in the sky
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GRANDAD has told how his paraglider's wing collapsed 9,000ft above the French Alps. Retired counter-terrorism cop Steve Barnett, 57, flew into a storm cloud, saturating his glider. 5 Steve Barnett, 57, has told how his paraglider's wing collapsed 9,000ft above the French Alps Credit: SWNS 5 Steve flew into a storm cloud, saturating his glider Credit: Stephen Barnett / SWNS 5 Steve was sent falling 30ft through trees and broke his pelvis when he hit the ground at 40mph Credit: Stephen Barnett / SWNS The wing caved under the weight of water as he tried an emergency landing — sending him falling 30ft through trees. Steve broke his pelvis when he hit the ground at 40mph. He called fellow paraglider Matt Roach, 47, for help. The pal, in the air at the time, tracked him down and alerted a rescue helicopter. Steve was airlifted from Passy, in south eastern France, to a hospital near the Italian border. He was allowed to head home to Seaford, East Sussex, just two days later. Steve recalled: 'There was a big cloud and I started hearing a pitter patter on the wing. "It came down heavier. 'Then all I could hear was this snapping, crackling and rippling. "I bounced on the ground and rolled. Shock vid shows half-frozen paraglider who was sucked 5 MILES into sky by vortex & left shivering in -40C conditions 'It was like someone had kicked me really hard.' Unfazed, he added: 'I can't wait to get back into the sky.' 5 Steve called fellow paraglider Matt Roach for help Credit: Stephen Barnett / SWNS 5 Steve spent two days in hospital and now says 'I can't wait to get back into the sky' Credit: SWNS Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
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