Taiwan English News
Date: February 10, 2019 
By: Phillip Charlier

A paragliding coach died, and a passenger was injured, after snagging power lines and falling around 20 meters to the ground in Wanrong Township, Hualien County this morning, February 10.

Shortly after 8:00am, 57-year-old paragliding operator Wang Tian-ming (王田明) launched a tandem flight with a 25-year-old male Chinese tourist named Tao (陶) in what are described in media reports as windy and foggy conditions.

Shortly before 8:30am, the paraglider canopy snagged high-voltage power lines around 30 meters above a betel nut plantation, and Wang and Tao were left suspended at a height of around 20 meters. According to statements by Tao, Wang cut the suspension lines, sending the pair plummeting to the ground.

When firefighters located the pair in the betel nut plantation, Wang had lost vital signs, and Tao was suffering back pain and had difficulty moving his limbs.    [FULL  STORY]