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Ground Connection

The chosen spot two men had in mind for a paragliding session was lacking in one small thing: a suitable launch point. The entire area was flat.

Doubtless inspired by specialised powered launchers, they tied the glider to an ATV and used it to tow the glider up to a suitable speed for flight. And they had liftoff!

They had neglected one minor thing. With no way to disconnect the vehicles from each other, the glider's upward velocity outgrew the connecting rope and lifted the ATV off the ground, flinging the rider from it. This extra weight on the nose, meanwhile, sent paraglider and operator back down to earth with a bump.

Miraculously the rider's injuries were minor but the glider pilot ruptured his aorta. With some skilful surgery, doctors managed to repair it. History does not report the fate of the innocent vehicles.

https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1930043319300706?token=A010573217F4F46DA4B462EDEAB800655CFCA191A53DEA10329F77DFCD3D5230AC5BA1F8CC0254D045A52B659531FE9A

medical case report

Submitted on 03/02/2021

Submitted by: Iona Macdonald
Reference:

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>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
"With no way to disconnect the vehicles from each other"??? The report doesn't mention any attempt to do so, thus I have to presume these guys were knuckleheads from the get-go! Thanks, Iona!


Tracy said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Great story. With a good write-up, it's a brilliant HM for me!