A paraglider who fell onto the Magaliesberg mountain in Hartbeespoort on Saturday had to be rescued by a team from the Hartbeespoort Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

Kormorant reports that Thomas Marx (57), an experienced paraglider, fell from the air shortly after take-off around 14:00 on Saturday.

Marx sustained an injury to his leg and couldn’t be moved.

“I took off from the northern side of the mountain and was about a meter off the ground when I plunged to the ground. The wind was not strong enough. It was just a failed take-off,” he says.

A search and rescue operation was launched by HEMS.

A team of paramedics reached Marx about 100m from the top of the mountain and had to carry him up to the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway, from where he was brought down by cable car to a waiting ambulance.

“The rescue operation took over two hours, and I want to commend the very competent and professional team from HEMS who worked really hard to carry me to the top of the mountain. I cannot remember all their names, but I want to thank each and every one of them.”

Marx was transported to a hospital in Brits, where his wound was treated.

“I was lucky to escape with a less serious injury. It was my first time taking off from the mountain in Hartbeespoort, but I will be back,” he says.

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