I fell 9,000ft & LIVED after my paraglider wing collapsed during a flight… but I can't wait to get back in the sky
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
5
5
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
5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Rescue teams searching for missing people after South Africa floods
Rescue teams in South Africa have started a third day searching for missing people after floods devastated parts of the rural Eastern Cape province and left at least 49 dead. Authorities said they expected the death toll to rise. Advertisement The missing included four high school students who were swept away when their bus was caught up in the floods near a river on Tuesday. An abandoned vehicle in a flooded area in Mthatha (Hoseya Jubase/AP/PA) Six students on the bus were confirmed dead while three were rescued after clinging onto trees and calling out for help, according to the provincial government. The floods hit the province early on Tuesday after an extreme cold front brought heavy rain, strong winds and snow to parts of eastern and southern South Africa. Forecasters had warned about the damaging weather last week. Advertisement Eastern Cape provincial government officials said they believed people were still missing but did not give an exact number. They were working with families to find out who was still unaccounted for, they said. The floods hit Eastern Cape province early on Tuesday after an extreme cold front brought heavy rain (Hoseya Jubase/AP/PA) On Wednesday, rescue teams brought bodies out of the water in blue body bags while witnesses said many people had taken refuge on the top of buildings or in trees. The floods centred on the town of Mthatha and its surrounding district, which is around 267 miles south of the east coast city of Durban. Advertisement Officials said at least 58 schools and 20 hospitals were damaged while hundreds of families were left homeless after their houses were submerged under water or washed away by the floods. Critical infrastructure including roads and bridges has been badly damaged, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said. He said it was one of the worst weather-related disasters his province had experienced. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he had activated the National Disaster Management Centre to help local authorities in the Eastern Cape while national officials were expected to visit the province on Thursday. Advertisement
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
South Africa floods: Search resumes for schoolchildren swept away by floods
The search for schoolchildren swept away in floods in South Africa's Eastern Cape province has resumed after being halted overnight, officials have children were on their way to school in the town of Mthatha when their bus was carried away in flood waters as it was crossing a bridge on Tuesday said three students were later rescued, but it was unclear how many pupils were on the bus, which has since been found on a riverbank with no-one inside. An unconfirmed report by private TV station Newzroom Afrika says the bodies of 10 children and the driver have now been found further downstream. Public broadcaster SABC reported that the three children who were rescued on Tuesday were found clinging to trees. On Wednesday morning, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane visited the scene to witness rescue efforts, and to meet affected told Newzroom Afrika that while the situation was a "difficult one", he was "quite happy" with the response of the emergency Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rains and gale force winds that have officially claimed the lives of 14 people, nine from the floods and five in a road 500,000 homes were left without electricity on Tuesday - and state-owned power provider Eskom says efforts are being made to restore Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the families of those who died as he urged citizens to "display caution, care and cooperation as the worst impacts of winter weather take effect across the country".The Eastern Cape - the birthplace of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela - has been worst-affected by the icy conditions, along with KwaZulu-Natal bad weather has forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid further casualties. More BBC stories on South Africa: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her motherHow Ramaphosa might gain from US showdownSchoolchildren swept away as heavy floods and snow hit South Africa Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
South Africa hit by snow, floods and gale force winds causing havoc
A minibus carrying schoolchildren has been swept away by heavy flooding in South Africa, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial government has told the BBC. Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus, but three had so far been found alive. Rescue efforts had been suspended as night had fallen and would resume on Wednesday, she added. In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people carried away by flood water have been found in the province's OR Tambo Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rains and gale force winds that have claimed the lives of a further five people in a road accident, and have left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity. The Eastern Cape - the birthplace of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela - has been worst-affected by the icy conditions, along with KwaZulu-Natal province. The bad weather has forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid further casualties. "This is a devastating reminder of nature's force. We urge everyone to exercise extra caution in areas prone to flooding," Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement. Five people died when a minibus taxi overturned near the coastal city of East London, with the driver saying he had lost control as he was trying to avoid a fallen tree, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, told the BBC. Two people were injured in the accident, he added. State power utility Eskom said that almost 300,000 homes had been hit by electricity cuts in 14 towns and villages in Eastern Cape.A further 196,000 homes in 24 areas in KwaZulu-Natal were also experiencing power cuts, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena told the BBC. KwaZulu-Natal Transport Minister Siboniso Duma said that heavy snow had led to lorries being stuck on roads, causing huge machines have been stationed on worst-affected roads to clear snow before it reached more than 30cm (12in) in depth. Meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela also warned of strong winds and heavy waves at sea, making navigation for ships difficult. Both Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are along the coast. South Africa regularly receives snowfall during its winter months, from June through August, with temperatures diving below 0C (32F).There is also regular flooding and scientists say that climate change is causing heavier rainfall in the region. Flash floods and overflowing rivers between 30 April and 2 May caused significant damage to about 4,500 homes, and left 18 people injured. More BBC stories on South Africa: Unpacking the South African land law that so inflames TrumpRebuked by Trump but praised at home: How Ramaphosa might gain from US showdownTears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
