A South African Air Force (SAAF) A109 Light Utility Helicopter was used to rescue an injured paraglider in the Eastern Cape last week.
On the afternoon of Thursday 4 March, a callout was authorised by the Air Force Command Post for the medical evacuation of an injured paraglider on the mountainous area towards Witteklip Nature Reserve, the SANDF said.
An A109 from 19 Squadron at Air Force Base Hoedspruit, currently stationed at Air Force Station Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) was tasked for the rescue.
At 17:35 the crew was airborne with three Mountain Club of SA – Eastern Province Section members accompanying it to the crash site. As the terrain was not conducive for vehicles to access the injured member, the extraction option was only feasible by air hoist.
In conjunction with the Mountain Club and Eastern Cape Emergency Medical Services, the injured paraglider was airlifted to the nearest open area and transported by ambulance to hospital.
The crew from the SA Air Force were Major Luxolo Vuyo Wakhaba (commander) and Flight Sergeant Azwimbavhi Michael Nevhorwa (Flight Engineer).
