Hang glider desperately clings on after pilot forgets to attach him, in terrifying video

Chris Gurksy decided to try the air sport while on a trip to Switzerland 

Tuesday 27 November 2018 12:35 GMT
Comments
Hang glider clings on after pilot forgets to attach him

A first-time hang glider had to desperately cling on after his instructor forgot to attach him to the craft.

Incredible footage has shows Chris Gurksy, who is from Florida, experiencing hang gliding for the first time while on holiday in Switzerland,

Seconds after taking off with an instructor, Mr Gursky can be seen realising his not strapped in properly before gripping tightly onto the bar of the hang glider to stay alive.

The pilot is seen attempting to ground the glider as soon as possible - but for two minutes the craft is seen gathering both speed and height.

At one point during the flight Mr Gursky is seen holding on to the craft with one hand while he frantically grips on to the instructor’s leg with the other.

Towards the end of the two-minute flight, Mr Gursky felt he was close enough to the ground to let go and can be seen crashing to the earth.

He suffered a fracture in his wrist which required a titanium plate and seven screws surgically inserted into his wrist.

He also tore his left bicep.

“The landing was a rough one, but I lived to tell the story,” Mr Gursky said.

He added that he intended on trying hang gliding again.

“I will go hang gliding again as I did not get to enjoy my first flight,” Mr Gurksy said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in