Miles in May - crash on day 1
May 19, 2008
Man injured in hang glider competition
STARS called to Vulcan scene
By KATIE SCHNEIDER, SUN MEDIA
Crashing a hang glider during a competition near Vulcan yesterday sent a 52-year-old man to hospital with serious injuries.
The accident happened about 9 km west of Vulcan, 75 km southeast of Calgary, about 2:30 p.m., when the competitor suddenly descended some 15 metres to the ground for unknown reasons, said Vulcan EMS director Dean Hartunt.
"He sustained multi-system trauma ... basically injured everything," he said.
The man was flown by STARS Air Ambulance to Foothills hospital in serious condition suffering from chest and lower-leg trauma, said spokesman Bart Goemans.
Hartunt said the man had been participating in a popular nearby hang gliding competition.
Three years ago, Albertan Chris Muller was killed when he crashed his hang glider in Groveland, Fla., while performing a stunt.
Swooping in at high speed only feet off the ground, Muller took his hand off the bar to grab a bag with a $100 bill.
The bar caught the ground and Muller crashed.
He later died of his injuries.
Muller's father, Willi, considered Canada's founding father of hang gliding, also died competing in the sport he loved.
In July, 1998, Willi fell more than 15m to his death during a competition in Chelan Butte, Wash.
Goemans, meanwhile, said STARS also flew a 45-year-old man to Foothills hospital after he was injured during a horse back riding accident near Vulcan about 12:30 p.m.
I talked to Rob Clarkson, it
I talked to Rob Clarkson, it was Jim Neff that had the accident while on tow. He has numerous non-life-threatening injuries which he should recover fully from.
I wish you a speedy and full recovery Jim. Take it easy.