Damien LeRoy Injured in Paraglider Crash

[Mossy 757]

http://m.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/br ... xpe/nrxC7/

"The man who fell 150 feet from his motorized paraglider over a Jupiter Beach has been identified as Damien LeRoy, according to employees with the Jupiter Kiteshop that work with him. He is expected to survive his fall, according to Jupiter Police."

[CaptainArgh]

Think about standing on top of a 15-story building. Would you jump?
When the steering equipment on Damien LeRoy’s motorized paraglider went out Monday night, he didn’t have a choice. The professional kitesurfer leaped into the mangrove thicket about 150 feet below between State Road A1A and the beach near Ocean Bluffs Boulevard, town police said. He broke a thighbone, fractured his tailbone and parts of his spine and punctured a lung, his close friend Jon Modica said.

Woh.

Best wishes to Damo and glad to read that the prognosis for recovery is good!

Can anyone who paraglides explain what is meant by "steering equipment went out"? I didn't think there was any "equipment" other than lines, but clearly if he could have just cut the engine and glided down, he would have done so. Don't doubt that he made the best choice, just trying to decode the article. Again, sincere best wishes to Damo!

[Bushflyr]

I'm not familiar with this particular crash, it hasn't shown up on any of my PG feeds, but the article writer is completely clueless. I mean, seriously beyond clueless, as are the people s/he interviewed. Steering equipment doesn't "go out" ever. And the idea that someone would deliberately jump from 150 feet is so incomprehensibly retarded.... Mind boggling that these "reporters" are even let out of the house without a helmet let alone paid to gather information.

Given that he's a pro kiter, by definition one who pushes limits, I'd guess he either got too aggressive and stalled or pulled it over too hard and collapsed a tip resulting in a spiral/spin. Hence an unintentional meeting with terra really firma.

But most definitely not what the article described.

[Toby]

Oh no, Damo is such a great guy! And very valuable for our sport!
But happy to read he will survive, could have been way worse.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Damo! Fingers crossed!!

[kitet]

I'm not familiar with this particular crash, it hasn't shown up on any of my PG feeds, but the article writer is completely clueless. I mean, seriously beyond clueless, as are the people s/he interviewed. Steering equipment doesn't "go out" ever. And the idea that someone would deliberately jump from 150 feet is so incomprehensibly retarded.... Mind boggling that these "reporters" are even let out of the house without a helmet let alone paid to gather information.

Given that he's a pro kiter, by definition one who pushes limits, I'd guess he either got too aggressive and stalled or pulled it over too hard and collapsed a tip resulting in a spiral/spin. Hence an unintentional meeting with terra really firma.

But most definitely not what the article described.

He definitely jumped. Look at the video...

http://www.wpbf.com/news/man-falls-150- ... t/40476288

[ronnie]

He's alive and talking, so he will probably remember what happened.

[longwhitecloud]

that he is still alive is amazing... water/mud landing?!

he is spinning around lines not able to control with motor running - my speculation is he thought there is a potential softer spot - vs multiple spin out of control crash - no idea really tho....... get well soon - insane footage... insane decision to make...

[shawn13]

Seeing as hes a GoPro athlete aswell, i bet he was recording the whole thing on board.

Good luck with the recovery Damo!

[Toby]

If everything was ok, would he have jumped? He is not that stupid. We will get the full story for sure.

Not sure if this was 150 ft though. Looking at the palm I would assume 100 ft. Still freaking high.

Considering this as option to survive is a brave one and he must have feared way worse.

[Kamikuza]

If everything was ok, would he have jumped? He is not that stupid.

Nick Jacobson.

I'd be curious to know where in the training manual it says, "...in that case, unstrap and take your chances with gravity."

Looks like he was aiming for the tree