A 64-year-old man from Switzerland tragically died in what has been described as a paragliding accident in the Western Cape. The incident occurred on Thursday, January 9, 2025, when the man, part of a group of five paragliders, was flying in the area near Porterville, specifically in the Waterval Nature Reserve near Ontongskop.
According to Anelisiwe Manyana, a spokesperson for the Western Cape police, the group had departed from Piekenierskloof in Citrusdal between 1pm and 2pm that afternoon. At some point during the flight, the other members of the group lost contact with the victim. Concerned for his safety, they contacted Skymed, a local emergency service, and began searching for him.
After an intense search, the 64-year-old was found in the mountains and was subsequently airlifted to Waterval Nature Reserve, where medical personnel declared him deceased. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, and an inquest docket has been opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident further.
The South African Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association (SAHPA) confirmed the tragic event and clarified that no witnesses to the accident had been found. “On the afternoon of Thursday, January 9, 2025, a 64-year-old recreational paraglider pilot visiting from Switzerland died of his injuries after an accident near Porterville,” the association stated. “The Search and Rescue operation was coordinated by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) and was conducted by Metro EMS Rescue and AMS.”
At this stage, the cause of the accident remains unclear, with no eyewitnesses to shed light on the events leading up to the fatality. SAHPA also noted that the Accident and Incident Investigation Division (AIID) has been notified and is involved in determining the cause of the incident.
This tragic accident has raised concerns within the local recreational flying community, and authorities are now working to piece together what happened during the flight.
