A paraglider cheated death in a heart-stopping mid-air incident that turned a peaceful flight into a desperate battle for survival off the Australian coast.
Ben Cope, an experienced paramotor pilot, was enjoying a routine flight 300 feet above the water when he spotted a dark shape moving just beneath the surface. The experienced adventurer initially believed it to be a dolphin or a whale, but a closer look revealed the unmistakable silhouette of a large shark.
"My wing just folded," Cope recounted, describing the terrifying moment his aircraft suffered a catastrophic collapse. "I was falling… I was just falling."
The sudden equipment failure sent him spiraling downward in a uncontrolled descent toward the ocean below. With mere seconds to react, Cope's extensive training kicked in as he fought to regain control of his paraglider.
The Plunge Into Icy Waters
Despite his efforts, Cope impacted the water at frightening speed. The force of the landing was brutal, but his life jacket automatically inflated, keeping him afloat in the choppy seas.
Alone in the water with the knowledge that a shark was nearby, Cope faced his darkest fears. "I was terrified," he admitted. "My heart was racing. I thought I was going to die."
For twenty agonizing minutes, the stranded paraglider tread water, desperately trying to stay calm and assess his situation while keeping watch for any further signs of the shark.
Miraculous Rescue Against All Odds
Miraculously, a nearby boat had witnessed the dramatic incident and immediately changed course to rescue the struggling pilot. The vessel reached Cope just in time, pulling him from the water shaken but physically unharmed.
Reflecting on his narrow escape, Cope acknowledged the series of fortunate circumstances that saved his life: "The life jacket, the boat being there… everything aligned for me to survive this."
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can accompany extreme sports, even for experienced adventurers like Cope, who has since returned to paramotoring with renewed caution and respect for the elements.
