Family Takes Vacation Photo — They Get Goosebumps Looking at This One!

Claire watched the rescue specialist disappear over the cliff edge on two ropes. After that, she could see almost nothing of him. All she had was the radio traffic and the rescue coordinator standing a few metres away. “Descending,” a voice reported. Then came another update. “Loose rock. Slowing down.” Claire kept staring at the point where the rescuer had vanished.

Several minutes passed. The radio crackled again. “Rescuer level with casualty.” Claire looked toward the coordinator. He raised a hand, asking her to wait. Another voice followed. “Casualty responsive but weak. Leg injury. Harness twisted.” David stood beside Claire without speaking. Then she heard the rescuer himself. “Secondary line attached. Beginning to cut canopy lines.” Claire finally felt they had reached him.

A burst of static cut through the radio. Someone shouted, “Movement! Hold the lines!” Claire saw the rope team at the edge lean back hard. “What happened?” she asked. The coordinator listened. Another message came through. “The wind pulled the rescuer and the casualty away from the rock. Both safety lines are holding.” Claire stared at him. “Both of them are hanging out there?” He nodded. “Yes. But the ropes have them.” Seconds later, the radio sounded again. “Casualty free from canopy. Rescuer has him secured. Ready to raise both.” Claire squeezed David’s hand. The injured pilot was no longer trapped by the paraglider, but neither man was safe yet.