Daredevil Paragliding Chihuahua Survives Crash
Welcome back!
An Australian paraglider and his Chihuahua, Emma — strapped to his chest with a simple cloth sling — were left dangling from a tree 115 feet (35 meters) above ground for 5 hours after a joy flight went horribly wrong, when they became entangled in a tree shortly after take-off from Warburton, near Melbourne this weekend.
Photo AFP / Timothy A. Clary
Paul Hansen used his cell phone to send text messages to friends who alerted police. Emergency crews in a helicopter made contact with Hansen on his UHF radio, and police, firefighters and emergency crew volunteers trekked through thick bush land before finding him.
Hansen — who suffers from cancer and was in pain without his medication — and Emma were lowered to safety after police climbed the tree and fitted a harness to him.
“I couldn’t get anyone on the radio. All I could hear was chatter about the cricket and people were talking about their Friday night, but no one could hear me.” he told Melbourne’s Sunday Age newspaper.
“I was pretty worried. I was very cold and I didn’t have any pain medication. I’ve been fighting cancer for the past 7 years and I was starting to go into withdrawals because I’m on a fairly high dose of morphine for the tumor pain.”
“I normally don’t take anything with me if I’m going flying, but by the time I was hanging up there well into the evening it was getting pretty painful.”
Paul’s foremost concern was for Emma, who had slipped out of her harness during the crash. “It took me nearly an hour to put it back on her because of the precarious way we were perched. She knew that we were in danger, but she didn’t panic or anything.”
“She always flies with me. She loves it. I wouldn’t take her if she didn’t like it. She goes everywhere with me, so she’s used to being in some pretty radical situations. She’s a pretty awesome little Chihuahua.”
Pride aside, the only injuries Hanson received were some minor cuts and abrasions from the crash which were treated by paramedics, and Emma was left unscathed by the ordeal, which started out as a ‘routine flight.’
“It’s pretty embarrassing to see the amount of trouble that’s been taken for me.” said Hansen. “I’m just so grateful that we’ve got these sort of people. Imagine if this was in some part of woop woop.” he said, Australian slang for remote bushland.
Senior Sergeant Paul McBride said the rescue was long and difficult. “He’s done a fantastic job himself to maintain his composure at such a height in the trees.” he said.
Hansen said he’s considering selling his paragliding equipment and donating the proceeds to volunteer emergency service workers.
Paragliding Chihuahua Rescue
One might think this bizarre journey to be a singled out event of one crazy Aussie, but apparently there are others just like him in the world.
Man With the Flying Dog
A documentary was aired that tells a sentimental story of one man and his dog,
and their passion for paragliding.
The Paragliding Dog
It’s difficult to tell whether the yelps from this dog are from fear or the thrill,
but he appears to be rather sedate about it all further on into the video.
Frosty the Flying Dog
Fearless Frosty isn’t phased by his daring flight. Video quality is not the best.
Sources: Telegraph and Yahoo Xtra
Related stories:
Worlds Smallest Dog Brandy
Base Jumping in Wingsuits for Extreme Sport
Jet Pack Flying – Extreme Sports
I’m glad they’ve rescued the dog
Hi Deborah,
)
That’s one lucky little doggy…guess it will be the free fall with paws outstretched next LOL
I have a simple tag if you wish top participate, choice is yours
Take care my dear friend,
Colin from Life
That scares the crap out of me. I was about to go paragliding last summer and am considering trying it again. I find it amusing that he took his dog with him though.. why would you do that?
Now, that’s something you don’t see everyday. Who would have thought that a dog can paraglide.
She certainly is a cutie, Pinay
She might even be able to teach me a few tricks, Colin
Thanks, great to see you around here my good friend 
Well it does look like a lot of fun, Buck. But not so much so when you see something like this
He said he takes his dog everywhere. Being a huge dog lover, I can understand it, as long as the dog isn’t afraid of the experience, which apparently she isn’t.
It’s a first for me to see as well, Pacquiao
Just for the record, the dog has a proper harness as well as the fur lined pouch. And when you fly cross country, does your dog want to be left in the car? NO…She knows what’s going on and is jumping up my leg as soon as I start strapping in. And, don’t believe everything you see in the media, very few reports have got the facts right. The main picture isn’t even Emma. Paragliding has excellent safety record, better then most sports, it’s just that when something goes wrong it can bite hard. It’s always pilot error, this was the result of my poor judgement. I overstepped the normal boundaries for reasons of my own. But we still walked away unharmed, thanks to the intensive training you have to complete for your license, and of course, the fantastic rescue services personnel who saved us, particularly the Police climber fondly referred to as ‘The Freak”
Hi Paul!
I know very well what you mean, my dog goes with me everywhere that I can take her. It sounds like she really enjoys paragliding with you
I don’t trust everything I hear in the media. All that you hear is the sensationalized story that some like to make of things. Wow, that isn’t even Emma?! It was an AFP photo along with this quote:
“A chihuahua that went paragliding in Australia strapped to its owner’s chest survived when the pair crashed into a tree shortly after taking off, police said Saturday.”
Now there is a perfect example of possibly leading one on with the facts. You get the impression that this was Emma, yet it doesn’t specifically name the image as being one OF Emma.
I agree, when some sports go wrong, they can go horribly wrong. I wasn’t aware that one is required to complete training and to get a license, but it’s actually good that they do for the person’s own safety.
That must have been quite an ordeal of a rescue attempt. I can well imagine the fears you had for Emma while you were trapped there for so long.
I’m happy that neither of you were seriously injured. I’m also very sorry to hear about your affliction with cancer. I’ve had friends and immediate family that have had it, so I understand very well what you’re dealing with on many levels, and how much pain you must have been in without medication.
And just for the record, nothing derogatory was meant in the statament of a ‘crazy Aussie’, it’s something I would say even to a friend in fondness for a situation they were in, and I’ve even been called that myself by some who know me
All my best to you, and thanks so much for popping by and for telling us your side of the story
She is a lucky dog! Good to see that both of them were not harmed and rescued..
Definitely, Andrew
Nice shot of the dog with sunglasses. At first I thought it was the same dog that was rescued in Australia. I was about to ask you. Good thing I checked your comment above and found the answer. Used to have a dog but my apartment right now doesn’t allow pets. Too bad.
Awww, sorry to hear that Pacquiao. Dogs bring so much magic to the home.
Hehehe, I’m guessing that dog has nine lives
thanks to rescued the dog….good job man..cheers, btw nice pics brother