A paraglider crashed into a power pole in north Phoenix and had to be rescued off a steep hillside, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.<\/p>\n
At about 6:30 a.m. June 29, Phoenix firefighters responded to calls of a paraglider who crashed into a power pole and was stuck in a power line near Seventh Street and Thunderbird Road, according to Captain Rob McDade.<\/p>\n
The paraglider, identified only as an adult man, was able to remove himself from his harness and get onto a large rock, McDade said.<\/p>\n
Rescuers assisted him down the mountain safely and evaluated him. He was not injured and declined to be taken to the hospital, according to McDade.<\/p>\n
Paraglider damaged power lines<\/p>\n
Before the rescue, the paraglider was seen dangling from the middle of a power line, and a nearby support beam received substantial damage, photos showed.<\/p>\n
Arizona Public Service did not report any power outages as a result of the incident.<\/p>\n
What is a paraglider?<\/p>\n
A paraglider is a type of aviation device that typically uses a parachute-like canopy to launch a seated pilot into the air, according<\/a> to the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association.<\/p>\n Some paragliders are driven by a fan that is powered by a small engine, as was the case in the north Phoenix incident.<\/p>\n Do paraglider crashes happen often in Arizona?<\/p>\n Paraglider crashes are rare in Arizona, but they do happen.<\/p>\n In mid-May, a firefighter recruit<\/a> in the Prescott area crashed a paraglider and died<\/a> due to injuries he sustained.<\/p>\n