Florida paraglider survives 500-foot plunge into ocean

A 52-year-old Florida antheral walked distant unharmed aft his powered paraglider dropped 500 feet retired of the entity and splashed into the water connected Friday, authorities said.

The melodramatic autumn happened conscionable earlier noon disconnected the seashore of Singer Island adjacent Riviera Beach, the Riviera Beach Police Department said. Bystanders captured the incidental connected compartment telephone video.

Sarah Williamson, a lifeguard with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue, told WFLX-TV that she archetypal noticed the paraglider was successful occupation upon seeing that helium was "going successful an absorbing pattern" aft hitting an evident upwind gust.

"I conscionable started running, and I radioed my different partner," she said. "We grabbed our rescue conduit and our rescue committee and paddled retired successful tandem."

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Beachgoers witnessed the paraglider autumn 500 feet into the water disconnected the seashore of Singer Island adjacent Riviera Beach connected Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Riviera Beach Police Department)

The lifeguards and adjacent beachgoers instantly swam retired to assistance the man, constabulary said.

Nearby beachgoers swam retired to assistance the uninjured paraglider, and brought him and his trade to shore, constabulary said. (Riviera Beach Police Department)

Williamson said a snorkeler dove underwater and helped escaped the antheral from a tangle of paraglider lines.

"(The snorkeler) was a godsend due to the fact that we did not person a mask, and helium was capable to get underwater and escaped the antheral portion we secured him," she told the outlet.

The paraglider, from Pompano Beach, had lifted disconnected from Ocean Cay Park successful Jupiter and sailed southbound until the 500-foot autumn into the water, constabulary said. (Riviera Beach Police Department)

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Police said the rescuers brought the 52-year-old paraglider and his trade to shore. He was not injured.

The paraglider, from Pompano Beach, had lifted disconnected from Ocean Cay Park successful Jupiter and sailed southbound until the 500-foot autumn into the water.

The man’s individuality has yet to beryllium released to the public.

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Williamson said she was "quite blown away" to larn however acold the paraglider fell earlier making the unplanned splashdown.

"Five 100 feet is an unthinkable happening to survive," she said.