UMVA has learned that a heart-stopping incident involving a paraglider and a small plane has sent shockwaves through the adventure sports community.
The thrilling sport of paragliding turned into a nightmare for a 44-year-old woman, known only as Sabrina, as she soared over the breathtaking Austrian Alps on Saturday. Her serene experience was shattered when a small plane suddenly collided with her glider, sending her spiraling out of control.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the incident occurred above the Piesendof area of Salzburg, Austria, when a 28-year-old pilot operating a small plane struck Sabrina's paraglider. The collision caused significant damage to her equipment, forcing her to deploy her reserve parachute and make an emergency landing.
Sabrina's quick thinking and training ultimately saved her life as she managed to pull her rescue parachute and land safely shortly after the incident. She was later airlifted by a police helicopter to receive medical attention. Fortunately, both Sabrina and the pilot escaped serious injury.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the dramatic collision was captured on video by Sabrina herself. The footage shows her gliding peacefully alongside the Schmittenhöhe mountain region in northern Austria when the sound of an engine grows louder. A white plane then appears, tearing through her glider just above her.
The video captures Sabrina's harrowing experience as she spins out of control, loses altitude, and reaches for her emergency parachute handle. Her voice is muffled by the wind as she screams in shock. Miraculously, she manages to deploy her parachute, slowing her descent, and lands safely on a grassy area, narrowly avoiding shrubs.
In a stunning twist, Sabrina revealed on social media that the collision occurred on her birthday. She expressed her gratitude that the incident didn't result in more severe consequences, writing that apart from a few bruises, she escaped relatively unscathed.
