SFFL: 5
Date: January 28, 2009
Nationality: Unknown
Location: Jura, La Corbatiere, Switzerland
COD: Impact
Ground Launching or Skiing: Snow kiting with a speed glider
Wing Type: wing Savage 12m
Age: 28
Experience: Unknown

Description:

Ground Handling Kiting wing in 20km/h wind, weird strong 80km/h gust took him into a trailer.

Patrick [28] was joining a 4 days speed-riding course from a paragliding school (already a licensed skydiver). On the second day, there was stormy weather, so they didn`t even try to go up the mountain. Instead they searched for a place to kite their wings in the flatland. They found a place in the Jura, called la Corbatiere.
A huge flat snowfield with constant wind around 20km/h. Rather not enough to kite, then too much. Suddenly the whole group was hit by a unbelievable strong wind gust, which must have exceeded 80km/h. Some people were picked up in the air a few meters, others only dragged away.
Patrick got picked up around one Meter and then got dragged very fast into a trailer which was standing on the near parking place. He then lost consciousness and was transported to hospital, where he died 3 days later.
Patrick was wearing a helmet and a back protector but still suffered a broken spine, head & internal injuries.

Details will follow after investigation.


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The List:
Speed Flying Fatality List

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