Former Scottish rugby scrum-half, Greig Oliver, lost his life in a paragliding accident while on a trip to South Africa to support his son, Jack. The father of two had paid £60 for a 15-minute tandem paraglide from Signal Hill to the beach below. Unfortunately, the experience turned tragic when Greig’s paraglider collided mid-air with another paraglider, resulting in his death.
The Accident and Rescue Attempts
As reported by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the pilot and passenger of the second tandem paraglider escaped unscathed, while Greig’s pilot had to deploy a reserve parachute and land in the surf about 200-300 meters off-shore of Sea Point Promenade. Greig was entangled in rocks in the water, and rescue teams had to untangle him from the paragliding gear. However, Greig could not be saved despite receiving CPR from responders.
Other Tourists Were Present
Several other parents were with Greig in South Africa, supporting the Ireland Under 20s in the Under 20’s World Rugby Championships. Some of them joined him for the short paragliding flight. Paragliding companies operate from a runway at the top of Signal Hill, offering thrill-seekers an opportunity to glide down to the promenade below at Sea Point, enjoying breathtaking views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and Robben Island.
Investigation is Underway
The South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association will conduct an investigation to determine what caused the accident and gather information from both pilots involved in the incident.
The Observance of a Minute of Silence
A minute of silence was observed during the Ireland Under 20s match against Fiji at the Dannie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch and other championship fixtures. Greig’s son, Jack, was scheduled to start on the bench as reserve scrum-half for Ireland Under 20s. The decision of whether he would play was left to him by the team coach.
Greig’s Family
Greig’s wife, Fiona, was also in Cape Town to support their son, but it is unclear if she witnessed the tragic event that occurred around 4:28 pm on Rocklands Beach. Greig, a retired rugby champion, had relocated his family from Scotland to Ireland in 2007 to take up a coaching position with Munster.
The Risks of Adventure Sports
Paragliding flights off Signal Hill are described as “bucket list” activities on various websites and operate year-round, weather permitting. However, this tragic incident involving Greig Oliver serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in these adventure sports.
