Helicopter blows paraglider off cliff: updated spinal accident review 

Seems to have happened more than once that. Helicopter blowing people out of trees / of cliffs. Having had a fellow pilot badly hurt in Annecy because of not being secured properly. I don't think it's a lesson that can be over emphasised. Hopefully the report is read and noted. I do feel sorry for the rescuers in these situations. We are all human. We all make mistakes.

Hi Nick, I’m an ACO with Westpac Life Saver Rescue. We are very aware of our rotor wash. That said, I still gained a great deal from your video. I have shared it far and wide among my friends and colleagues within the Aus and NZ HEMS industry. My best wishes to you for the future.

thanks for sharing Nick, still find watching your videos post accident hard to watch, especially here as it must be so easy to go down a rabbit hole with emotions, anger and frustration. Fingers crossed that you continue with recovery and each day you'll wake up with a little bit more movement and feeling. Love the fact that you've not let it stop your love for flying and living life to the fullest, we can all take somthing from the stregnth and determination you've shown. keep on mending.

Hi Nick, I can assure you rescue teams in the area are absolutely aware of the risks their downwash creates (also to them). They rescue paragliders sometimes multiple times a day, and are probably the most experienced rescue teams in the world in that regard. But as you point out if they suspected you needed immediate medical care they maybe have choosen to take that risk. They walk a fine line and suffer fatalities in their ranks often. Their job is one the most dangerous form of aviation, not sure you can compare it with commercial aviation. Cyrille

Hi Nick, thanks for sharing the story. I've been following your channel since youtube offered me the first video about your crash. Your outlook is admirable and inspirational, for that reason I have subscribed to hear more about what you have to say. As someone who likes to do dangerous hobbies, hearing you talk so candidly about your experiences has been incredibly interesting. Best of luck with everything.

I'm glad you are getting some closure on the event Nick. Thank you for sharing, I hope you're doing well.

Your attitude and strenght are mindblowing. You are an inspiration. Love you so much ❤

Hi Nick. I flew the Areves for the first time last month. and all i could think of was be cautious this is where Nick had his accident. I had some uncomfortable moments on that range. Impressive but intimidating. especially when i had to scratch in punchy conditions. Thanks for sharing all. You are educating and saving lives as always. Good healing!

I knew of this really great hang glider pilot who was flying a hang glider for a car commercial. They used a helicopter for recording & the pilot was told multiple times to not get too close. The director kept saying 'closer, closer.' Well, they got closer & killed the pilot. You don't have to decide anything now. Think about it. Without pointing out the white elephant in the room. Dude, you fell 50 meters due to rotor wash. I still can't believe how positive you are! You rock man!

Thank you for sharing! Another important lesson for all of us.

Thank you Nick for your willingness to share so much detail with us. A lot of very valuable information here. Im sure you dont need me to say it but your ability to review all this with seemingly such an unbiassed perspective is incredibly admirable and impressive. That is one hell of a fall due to the reserve inflating.. just shocking and sad, the thought of you being dragged down the mountain with your injuries is horrific, accelerated by a reserve caught in downwash. It must have been tough for people there to witness as well. It's amazing that you survived, and it makes me wonder what helmet you were wearing, as it must have done a great job of protecting your head all things considered. I know you mentioned (or even showed) the helmet in question in a previous video so I will have to go back and rewatch it. Not the easier content to consume but gripping and very valuable to consider. Thanks again, Harry

Gidday Nick. Firstly, thanks for sharing your amazing story. I've been a rescue pilot for over two decades and comment from that perspective. I've also taken up kitesurfing 5 years ago & have given lots of thought as to how I'd approach any of the kite spots in a rescue situation. I've rescued base-jumpers and paragliders before & yes, the canopy / glider is definitely one of the many risk factors considered in what is always a dynamic situation with the patient's wellbeing being uppermost. I'm sure that you reflect on your not cutting / releasing your reserve away as a significant factor in exacerbating the serious situation you were in. Hindsight is always 20/20, but your story and analysis has made me give extra thought as to how I would have managed the rescue ... thanks again & go well man. 🤙

as a paraglider pilot who had a accident with a bad spinal injury, I can relate. I discovered the reason of my injuries, and the nature of the operation I had, the day I left the hospital, 6 weeks later. Very luckily I left the hospital (barely) on my feet. Good luck for your physical and mental recovery, wish you the best

Wow Nick, such a journey for you. So impressed by your attitude and perspective around the whole thing. Fingers crossed for you that you get the licenses you need soon. Also I'm going to be buying a hook knife...

Thank you, Nick. You are simply amazing. A true inspiration. ❤

You’re a good man I can tell. Very lucky in one way as this fall could’ve been worse. Keep positive and keep smiling. Sending prayers for great future 👍🏻

So sorry for your accident. This is the very first video from your channel that I have watched. I subscribed. I want to share your journey with you. I too had a closed head injury and have dealt with memory loss and other issues. If you have any questions or want to talk, just reach out. You were in a helicopter accident, a paragliding accident, and you fell off the side of a mountain. Wow! the luck!

Bloody good retrospective review of the accident Nick. No one could really know the sequence of events until you did the factfinding necessary. Loved your take on reserves which still holds true in your case ?? However didn't I see you throw a reserve in an earlier superb video ? Regardless ,an excellent insightful commentary I don't believe I could have presented in such a balanced way . Still a shining light for us all 😊 Cheers mate

More power to you. Massive respect! And best for the future✌🏽❤️

Literally adding insult to injury. Glad you're still around.

Amazing video Nick. Always thinking of you and amazed at what you have accomplished so far. Onwards and upwards (pun intended) 😂

Loved the video, love your honesty!

Hey mate, Im happy to see more from you! Ive been following you before your crash and your vids were part of the reason I started flying myself. It saddened me so much seeing your crash, and especially the mess of the rescue, I hope you wont have to suffer through financial stress too. Something that has occurred to me seeing the footage of your last flight this time is that youre mostly flying without gloves and holding on to the brakes in the "toilet" position, is that your standard way of grabbing em? And how many stalls have you done with that glider before? All the best mate!

I had a serious accident when young….still dealing with it…things likely will likely get better for you over time. It has with me now 50 years post accident.

Bummer... we had a similar accident in Hungary, where a paraglider ended up on the top of a tall tree on a hill, healthy, but unable to climb down. Instead of waiting for the firefighters and alpine rescuers to arrive, a military Mi-8 heavy search and rescue helicopter tried to pick him up with its winch. Under the rotor downwash, and the canopy still sticking to the tree limb, it broke off and the paraglider fell to the ground really hard, lost conciousness and suffered so terrible internal injuries that he died in about 3 weeks time. A friend of mine knew him personally, and he said that the whole paragliding community was devastated and pretty angry at the military S&R helicopter. They had to push hard with layers to get an investigation going, and eventually the helicopter pilot was charged with involuntary homicide. I talked to someone, who also pilots these old S&R helicopters, and his said that it was probably the military S&R dispatch center, commanding the winch rescue, in order to get some good PR story for the military. Well, they got a terrible one...

I went into the trees/large bushes on a ridge in Annecy 20 years ago.. i remember frantically pulling my wing out of the branches to remove any risk to the helicopter, the helicopter was parting the foliage looking for me, only 4 metres above the trees.. i thought that was very crazy.. 😳 An assessment from a far would of been the best option and maybe not just charging in... unfortunately the only way rescue services are going to learn not to make this type of mistake again is for there to be ramifications when they fuck up.. The shockwave of a big legal case would go throughout the whole rescue services. I know the guys dont go out to make the situation worse and they have resued many people over the years, ive seen the pompieres showing great skill .. But your incident is what happens when someone doesnt take control proplerly, slow down and assess thoroughly the risk to all in the rescue ! You have big challenges ahead of you man, the money would help.. And maybe rescue teams will learn from it and hopefully something like this will never happen again.. I had heard you had a second fall.. i didnt know it was brought on by the helicopter..

I have been in aeromedical rescue in and around the world for a while now, and unfortunately can see how this mistake could be made. Sorry for your injuries and agree that better could have been done. In NZ there is unfortunately good crews and bad ones (as you were asking, how this would have played out maybe in NZ). Not intentionally bad, but just by training/experience and their attitude. Unfortunately in NZ there are big fractures between rescue and medicine and in some regions rescue is always a priority with no thought towards medical treatment on site. However like you said in some comments the system and SOPs and even more importantly continues training for all kinds of rescue events should be a priority in these organizations. However this is sadly not always the case and politics and other factors are more of a priority than competence. I have seen how things have gone bad and good and often organizations would try and protect themselves and not learn from the danger/incident. It is very backwards compared to the standards set in other aviation environments and very surprising as you mentioned. Rescue practice is not very well standardized and regulated compared to medicine, and this is a worldwide issue. Mistakes should not just be brushed off with no consequence, professional Paramedics/Doctors/Rescuers owe perfection to the patient and their colleagues in this environment regardless of how dangerous and difficult it is. Yes humans make mistakes, however that should lead to accountability then learning and sharing within the profession, and not the common approach of hiding events like this (not saying that is this specific operators intentions, just a common one within organizations I have been part of). I hope you find peace and resolution.

Hey man, wish you a good recovery, will you be able to walk again and fly ? I wish you so. Take care.

A useful analysis. I respect your candor and bravery to do this analysis. Regarding the fight with bureaucracy I suggest you do get support from agencies and charities that can advise you on your rights and assist in any paperwork. I am not familiar with French legislation but in the UK organisations are required by law (Equality Act 2010) to make 'reasonable adjustments' to accommodate for a disability. As this came out of the European Convention on Human Rights I suspect France will have something similar. If you feel you are being treated unfairly because of a disability then referencing this in your communications may help smooth the process. Relevant charities will be able to advise you further.

Although helicopters have been around for 80 years and have undergone considerable development, it will probably surprise most people to learn that it is only in the last few years that detailed work has taken place on the effects of downwash on those below the aircraft and the effects and persistence of the wake turbulence. In fact, during the last couple of years there has been significant dissemination of the results of new work in this area amongst the rescue community worldwide and that will continue. SAR aircrew with military experience normally have an awareness of canopy inflation risk because they have trained to rescue downed military aircrew. While that is all well and good, most such work was conceived and undertaken decades ago when military jets were falling out of the sky more regularly and helicopters were pathetic, underpowered things with rubbish blades and less intense downwash. Even the parachutes they were dealing with were pretty rubbish insensitive devices. What is now being realised is that powerful modern medium weight helicopters create wake turbulence on the same scale as a decent sized airliner. If we couple that knowledge with the realisation that canopies have also undergone huge development, and these things just want to fly, we have to take on board that the reinflation risk is now immensely greater than when Westland Whirlwinds were picking up guys who had ejected from Hawker Hunters. In a few territories across the world, there have been significant numbers of accidents in wild country involving paragliders, paramotors, base jumpers and wingsuiters: a five to ten time increase across 20 years. Several reinflation incidents have occurred and lessons are starting to be learned. I shall be linking to this video.

The wisdom in this experience is to be found in acceptance rather than blame.

Did you have the hook knife yourself to cut the risers quickly yourself while conscious?

Hi Nick, we'll never know how different things would've been if you didn't have that second fall/getting dragged down the mountain, but I still can't understand how a professional rescue crew could make this mistake. I've experienced the downwash from a hovering helicopter and it's not subtle. Even if they didn't notice the reserve deployed, it's insane to bring a helicopter close to any deployed fabric especially when it's not entangled in trees. Hopefully something good will come out of it as you hope and this kind of accident is prevented in future.

Rescue by „long line“ would have been an option, I believe often done in Switzerland

Hello, are you still paralysed or did you succed to walk again ?

I'm surprised the helicopter pilot got so close to you on that mountain. In the U.S., they use a very long winch line in an attempt to keep the helicopter higher in the air and the rotor wash away from the rescuers and patients. Pilots are trained to manage rotor wash because it affects the aircrafts ability to hover. They know how powerful the rotor wash is. Helicopters can crash if rotor wash is not evenly distributed, that is why there are so many videos of crashing choppers trying to land in the mountains near cliffs and also in cities with lots of tall buildings rising on all sides of the helicopter. It's just a guess, but I imagine the the medic was talking to the pilot over a radio, and the pilot was probably told your wing was secured and that is why he moved in too close. If he would have known there was an unsecured reserve chute, I doubt he would have attempted to pick you up. They most likely would have set medics down farther away from you and had them rope down to your position to secure all chutes and the wing.

That rotor wash problem very common when sailing as well and helicopter pilots do not realise how much of inconvenience they create. Must always take it in to account thay they don’t know what they are doing.

It is impossible not to speculate on what would have happened had the helicopter not blown Nick further down the mountain. So why not speculate on what might have happened with some other scenario: a self-rescue or rescue by friends familiar with paragliding risks and injuries; rescuers climbing up or down, rather than dropping down beneath a helicopter; waiting for a helicopter crew explicitly trained in paraglider rescue vice generic mountain emerencies...

Nick, please accept my apology in advance for this blunt question; How is recovery going? Progress towards walking? I wish you the best sir!

Wow I've been following along with your accident, but i hadn't realized howuch worse the rescue made things. It sounds like you thought you still had motor function if you were going to walk out? If so you're taking this very well, I'm not sure I'd be so gracious if I was in your position after hearing that report.

You're not the First One, I tell you.. I had a friend, he had a bad Landing on a small Side at the Dolomites. The Rescueteam came with a Helicopter, that increases the Damage of his Body, the same as they Increase the Cost of the Hole Resue. It seems, it is more Important, to earn Money from the Helicopter Action, than to help People in Accidents, with the less Cost and less Danger, to bring them to Hospital or a Doctor.. It's the same with many Interventions, today, that are Over Interventing and making more Problems over all, that are a Must. A Tree Landing becomes a risky Rescue, with a Helicopter. In many typical Cases, they make it worse, sadly, I must say!

yes there is a procedure problem keep going bro

Of course you can take up aircraft flying…I’ve seen a number of pilots in your situation who are active pilots. But flying in an airplane is maybe too sedate for a New New Zealander … . Great videos

You are alive .. I hope you rehabilitate with technology soon . ❤

Slow boil. The truth comes out. The accident within the accident. Preventable.

You probably want this video to get more views. I'd personally put a title like "helicopter rescue gone wrong?", with maybe an image of both helicopter and X-Ray in the thumbnail

good man

the helicopter should have footage on board, you should ask for it!

Wow good luck…I think it’s noble of you to ensure that rescue teams are aware of the danger “D” so that First, Do No Harm..Primum non nocere! I’m sure the pilot and rescue team feel like shit and now the bureaucracy does what it knows best..protect its ass from negligence investigation and litigation. If litigation is not your motive, and education to future rescuers is priority, sign a waiver to such and dig deeper until your satisfied with hopefully closer to the truth.

Definitely sue them. It's the only way things will be changed for the better. Also, to answer your question about what would happen in NZ: They change you 9 times from stretcher to stretcher causing you to become paraplegic. Ask Grant...

I'm not here to say anything about the accident, or humans flying in any capacity, since it seems that southern hemisphere devil bird has a lot to say already. Is that a bird with a 1980s boombox of other birds on it's shoulder or what?

If you stay at home!!

One thing I see from this is you was talking perfectly fine and he was moving your arms after the helicopter blew you down the hill you was talking about coconuts and you couldn't move I think that should have been a lawsuit on the med vac helicopter they're trying to cover up their tracks that's why that one switched his job he no longer works for the helicopter correct that should have been a lawsuit right there cuz you was pretty much fine until they blew you down you was talking about getting up moving around and everything but after they believe down the hill I think that's where you got most of your injuries and your friend told you to stay where you're at I'm using my microphone so it ain't really making much sense but one good thing is you can still fly

Sorry this happened. In my opinion the fact that the helicopter went anywhere near you let alone hovering over a paraglider hanging on a cliff is unbelievable. I would sue them, even to just make a noise so they do not do it again. But I understand your need to move on with your life.

Maybe they should just stop rescuing people. You do your risky shit, you take all the risk and you can handle it yourself... if you can.

i know it's not the best thing to be in a wheelchair, but you're alive ... they did their best ... maybe your rescue was hided by the rocks ? hope you're gonna get back on your legs ... otherwise you can still fly in a chair ;) (that's what i would do ...)

P R O M O S M 😊

There's no neglect to it man they had to get down there to you or leave you for the vultures and they got there and they couldn't get in to where you actually had to land so they blew you off took a chance and you lived when you stepped off the ground with a bag of hot air telling everybody you were a pilot that's where you made your mistake it wasn't these guys fault about your reserve or anything they just took a guess and got you home.

You take on these type of risks when you do extreme sports. This is sad, and it sucks. I’m sure the rescuers did everything possible to give you the best care possible. Let it go and get on with your life. You really have no one to blame but yourself.

wow, blame the rescue crew and not post your video of what you did wrong, typical youtube desire for fame and money

Maybe they should've just left you there.

"They neglected to consider my reserve" you mean YOU neglected to consider your reserve. This whole video comes across as you blaming the rescuers for your misfortune using the "educational" aspect solely as plausible deniability for your bitterness. You probably had a knife, and you know you should have cut the reserve away before the helicopter arrived. No one else is to blame. You fail to make this clear in the video, so I can only conclude that you haven't understood that the only person at fault here is you. I'm sorry this happened to you, but trying to place the blame anywhere other than yourself is not acceptable.

Risk, avoidance, responsibility, accountability - all of these are yours to own. The blame’s all on you.

We had two P/Gs treated by the emergency services on Saturday. There's a video of the one who had a canopy collapse being lifted up the slope on a stretcher. They still get plenty of willing participants wanting to train to fly P/Gs. Serch for: watch-as-injured-paraglider-rescued-at-sussex-beauty-spot

I feel for you, it sucks to think you may have done everything right to get fkd over by a bad rescue

If you can still move your arms your still able to glide hook those wheels up fuck what the docs say

Play dumb games win dumb prizes