Shocking moment paraglider, 60, is sent hurtling into a dense forest

This shocking video shows the moment turbulent winds sent a paraglider hurtling towards the ground. 

Eric Démarez, 60, an experienced paraglider, had been looking to land for several minutes, but kept getting stuck in rising currents of wind.

Eventually, Eric managed to find a place he could descend but he went too low in his attempt to land.

The wind over the Bauges mountains, near Chambéry, France, was too turbulent and partially closed his parachute, sending him crashing into the trees.

The trees broke the fall of the paraglider, who said he was in a ‘dangerous’ area and that a similar fall near a cliff could have killed him.  

Paraglider Eric Démarez, 60, hurtled through some foliage when his parachute was partially closed by strong winds on a trip in France 

The Lille-based radiographer was not badly injured and limped back to his car after crashing through the canopy of the trees

The Lille-based radiographer was not badly injured and limped back to his car after crashing through the canopy of the trees 

Eric’s camera captured the entire incident on video, including his peaceful time gliding before he attempts his descent. 

He can be seen crashing into trees, with branches slowing down his freefall, before hitting the ground.

Once he has landed, his parachute can be seen tangled up in nearby trees.  

The paraglider says when he lands, ‘Plus de peur que de mal,’ or: ‘More fear than harm.’ 

Miraculously, Eric was not seriously injured and he was able to limp back to his car. 

The paraglider did suffer a minor internal muscle injury to his tibia.

Eric, a radiographer from Lille, France, explained: ‘The weather conditions were strong for me, so I tried to land but I was unable to go down.

Pictures taken from before the terrifying descent into a forest, from the trip near Chambéry in  France

Pictures taken from before the terrifying descent into a forest, from the trip near Chambéry in  France

An experienced paraglider, Eric realised quickly that he wasn't going to make it to his intended descent point

An experienced paraglider, Eric realised quickly that he wasn’t going to make it to his intended descent point

'We push the accelerator to move forward a little', the paraglider says, just moments before strong winds sent him cannoning towards the ground

‘We push the accelerator to move forward a little’, the paraglider says, just moments before strong winds sent him cannoning towards the ground

The radiographer from Lille descended quickly and was not able to avoid the trees below him as a result of strong winds

The radiographer from Lille descended quickly and was not able to avoid the trees below him as a result of strong winds 

The camera he was wearing shows the paraglider falling quickly through branches, which thankfully slow him down before he hits the floor

The camera he was wearing shows the paraglider falling quickly through branches, which thankfully slow him down before he hits the floor  

Once the paraglider lands, the ropes and canvas of his parachute can be seen tangled up in nearby trees

Once the paraglider lands, the ropes and canvas of his parachute can be seen tangled up in nearby trees

'I have been very lucky,' Eric said while sitting on the floor after the dramatic descent into the forest

‘I have been very lucky,’ Eric said while sitting on the floor after the dramatic descent into the forest 

‘When I finally found a place with no updraft, I went down too low. I still tried to reach the landing field.

‘I then crossed a very turbulent area. My wing partially closed, I didn’t react correctly, I lost control and I ended up in the trees.

‘I was in a dangerous area, where I should not have been. I was exhausted and did not control my kite movements well.

‘It was very fast, I did not understand anything, I don’t remember ever being really scared. It was too fast.

‘A similar fall near a cliff or on a rocky area could have been fatal, luckily, I passed through the trees, taking some branches with me.

‘I was able to retrieve my wing, untangle my gear and return to my car… Limping!’

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