91-year-old daredevil survives paragliding crash in Australia
A 91-year-old man managed to swim to safety and climb up a cliff face after surviving a paragliding crash in Australia.
The NSW Police Force said the paraglider escaped with only cuts and a wrist injury after crashing into the ocean on the east coast on Sunday evening.
"Emergency services were called to a cliff face near Warriewood Surf Club after the aircraft crashed shortly before 6pm," police said.
Rescuers helped the nonagenarian climb up the cliff before he was taken to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital for treatment.
Jos Bots told 9News from his hospital bed that he has been paragliding for 40 years but ran into trouble on Sunday evening.
Mr Bots said he hit the rock face with his feet and fell in the water.
He was full of praise for the people he credits with saving his life after pulling him from the water.
"They're the real heroes. I owe them my life, that's for sure," he told 9News.
Witnesses called for help when they saw Mr Bot's parachute descend into the ocean, according to reports.
Rescuers found him stranded on a rock shelf with an incoming tide.
"By the time emergency services arrived, the 91-year-old had managed to swim to the bottom of the cliff face where bystanders helped pull him up onto the rocks," 7News Sydney reported.
"Paramedics were considering using a helicopter to try and winch him to safety, but decided to put him in a harness and use abseiling equipment to walk him back up the cliff."
Fire & Rescue NSW crash inspector Michael Woodward said Mr Bots - who was wearing a helmet - was "very lucky" to have landed in the water instead of the rocks and that people were there to help him at the time.
Mr Bots plans to be back flying as soon as he can.
