AN AMERICAN paraglider who got entangled atop a high-voltage power pole at Koh Larn, off Pattaya, was safely rescued after an hour-long power cut at the popular tourist island, Amarin TV said today (Jan. 12).
At 2.30 p.m. Sawang Boriboon Foundation at Pattaya City was alerted of a foreign paraglider who while haphazardly landing got entangled on top of a high-voltage power pole at Koh Larn’s Ta Waen beach and quickly sent a volunteer rescue unit to help him with police stationed at the island contacted to investigate.
At the scene, many Thai and foreign tourists were watching the incident. Upon inspecting the over 10-metre-high high-voltage power pole, they found the foreigner, identified as Mr. Michael Travis Langhart, 55, an American citizen, hanging upside down after his paragliding gear got snarled there and crying for help.
This turned out to be a difficult rescue operation with the rescue team having to ask the electricity authority to cut off power supply to the whole island, leading to a complete blackout at Koh Larn, They then safely brought the American man down with the whole operation lasting almost an hour.
Upon examination, the paraglider was found to have abrasions on both legs and burns from an electric shock. He was immediately taken to Koh Lan Hospital and was to be transferred to a Pattaya hospital for further treatment.
It was learned that Langhart has a licence from Royal Thai Air Sports Association for paragliding and skydiving. He had climbed to the top of Koh Lan before paragliding down but while attempting to land on Ta Waen beach, he lost control of his gear and got entangled at this power pole, sustaining the injuries.
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Top and Front Page – The American paraglider entrapped at a Koh Larn power pole. Photos – Amarin TV
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