Overview
- The 52-year-old Pompano Beach resident crashed just before noon on Jan. 9 near Singer Island after launching from Ocean Cay Park in Jupiter.
- Lifeguards Sarah Williamson and John Swendel paddled out with rescue gear as a nearby snorkeler dove to cut him free from tangled lines.
- Riviera Beach Ocean Rescue, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and police brought him to shore with only cuts and scrapes, and he had been wearing a helmet.
- Cellphone footage shared by authorities shows the powered paraglider dropping roughly 500 feet into the ocean as witnesses react.
- Officers later recovered the equipment from the water, the pilot’s name has not been released, and responders are using the incident to reinforce water-safety visibility.