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A Heroic Act: Students and Teachers Rescue a Paraglider in Western Cape

May 14, 2023

1 min read

In the Western Cape, a group of students and teachers at Hermanus High School demonstrated their heroic spirit by saving an entangled paraglider. The paraglider had been flying calmly, following radio instructions, when he got caught in a large bluegum tree near the school.

Quick Response from Teachers and Students

Upon noticing the emergency, the teachers and students acted quickly. They contacted emergency services and gathered a group of volunteers to assist with the rescue effort. However, they soon realized that there was no ladder tall enough in the town to reach the paraglider.

Creative Solution to the Rescue

Determined to save the paraglider, the teachers led a group of Grade 10 and 11 students to collect high jump mats from the school’s sports facilities. Under the teachers’ guidance, the students strategically placed the mats around the tree trunk to cushion the paraglider’s fall.

A Successful Rescue

School principal, Mike Smuts, commended the learners and teachers for their quick thinking and innovative approach to the rescue. The high jump mats played a crucial role in ensuring the paraglider’s safe landing.

The South African Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Association reported that the paraglider, a 34-year-old man, only sustained minor injuries during the ordeal. Emergency medical services were surprised to find the high jump mats in place, which had already broken the paraglider’s fall. A private ambulance provided treatment on-site before transporting the patient to Hermanus MediClinic for further care.

Collaboration Saves the Day

The successful outcome of the rescue operation was a result of the combined efforts of the students, teachers, and emergency responders. Their quick thinking, resourcefulness, and teamwork in a crisis undoubtedly saved the paraglider and prevented more serious injuries.

Hermanus High School’s Valuable Contribution

As the investigation into the cause of the accident continues, the people of Hermanus High School can take pride in their invaluable contributions to a remarkable rescue. The excitement buzzing throughout the school community is a testament to their heroic actions.

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Thabo Sebata
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Thabo Sebata is a Cape Town-based journalist who covers the intersection of politics and daily life in South Africa's legislative capital, bringing grassroots perspectives to parliamentary reporting from his upbringing in Gugulethu. When not tracking policy shifts or community responses, he finds inspiration hiking Table Mountain's trails and documenting the city's evolving food scene in Khayelitsha and Bo-Kaap. His work has appeared in leading South African publications, where his distinctive voice captures the complexities of a nation rebuilding itself.

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A Heroic Act: Students and Teachers Rescue a Paraglider in Western Cape