Paraglider Rescued After Crash in Canadian Rockies
Jumping in windy conditions
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A paraglider was airlifted to a Calgary hospital after he sustained potentially life-threatening injuries in Alberta’s Rockies on Thursday.
The 38-year-old man was jumping near Mt. Lady Macdonald, northwest of Canmore, when he crashed into the hillside.
Police have not released the man’s name, but a friend identified him as Andrew Wexler, a native of the area.
Mickael Roy said Wexler has several years’ experience paragliding under his belt, and had traveled to other countries, including France and Turkey, to paraglide.
Roy said the area Wexler had been paragliding in Thursday, Lady Macdonald, is notorious for its winds.
“If you want to take off from Lady Mac, you might have some wind coming from the north,” said Roy. “If you have that kind of wind, you’ll be in the lee and it will be kind of dangerous.”
Roy said Wexler was flying with a smaller-winged paraglider that allows for faster flying speeds and can be flown in windy conditions.
“In those conditions, like today, you cannot fly with a normal paraglider,” said Roy.
A spokesman for the helicopter rescue company said he was in critical condition.