Young paraglider dies after crash near Willard Peak in Utah

A 25-year-old crashed while paragliding near Willard Peak in Northern Utah on October 25. The identity of the young man has not been released at this time.

According to Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office, the alarm was called around 7:30 PM on Sunday after the young man did not return. Officials immediately took action and were deployed.

“Search and rescue operations were initiated and a Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter was dispatched to assist,” the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a release. post on social media. “Tragically, the helicopter identified a debris field and confirmed that the paraglider was involved in a fatal accident near Willard Peak.” The DPS helicopter was able to recover his body.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragic loss,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.”

This tragedy occurred just two weeks after an earlier paragliding accident in Utah that killed 56-year-old Illinois resident David Gest. The accident occurred at the south end of Flight Park State Recreation Area in Utah County after Gest was unable to regain control while flying. Following the incident, Gest was transported to Intermountain Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Sage magazines published a study, Quantifying risks in air sports: flying activity and incidence rates in Paraglithing, two years ago, in which paragliding injury rates were dissected. The study found that 6 percent of the 1,788 participants had to seek medical attention or miss work due to a paragliding injury in 2019. Adventure sports, including paragliding, carry enormous risk for all participants. As athletes do their best to limit that risk, unexpected challenges arise.

Authorities are doing everything they can to investigate the 25-year-old’s accident.