A 53-year-old experienced paraglider survived a dramatic accident in France’s Isère region after his wing collapsed in turbulence, sending him crashing three times into a massive mountain cliff before he came to rest on a narrow ledge more than 600 feet above the ground.
The incident occurred on August 16, 2026, at the Saint-Eynard cliff, a roughly 984-foot rock face that overlooks the Grenoble area. After the paraglider’s wing suddenly collapsed, he lost control and struck the cliff face three times. In an incredibly lucky break, he landed on a narrow, gravel-covered ledge approximately 656 feet above the ground.
With the pilot perched on the tiny ledge and a sheer drop below him CRS Alpes, France’s specialized mountain rescue unit, were dispatched on a tricky rescue mission to extract him.
Rescuers faced significant challenges reaching the stranded paraglider. Because of the steep, exposed terrain, the team could not simply reach the pilot directly from the helicopter. Rescuers were dropped roughly 60 meters away before traversing the cliff face by rope to reach the stranded paraglider.
The rescue team eventually reached the paraglider and secured him for extraction. Using a maximum-length cable, they were able to safely remove him from the exposed ledge and transport him away from the cliff.
CRS Alpes rescuer Grégory Morin described the rescue a “un pur miraculé” meaning “a pure miracle.” Remarkably, the 53-year-old escaped with only a minor injuries.
