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Paraglider makes desperate call for help in fatal crash on Green Mountain

Posted at 9:36 AM, Jun 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-21 15:57:08-04

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. – A man paragliding near Green Mountain in Jefferson County was killed after crashing on a hillside Friday night.

The man called 911 after the incident and told operators that he had crashed in the area. Authorities immediately dispatched rescue crews from the West Metro Fire District.

Keeping the paraglider on the phone as long as they could, crews searched the west side of the mountain.  The paraglider was unconscious when searchers found him around 9:15 p.m., but their efforts to revive him with CPR were unsuccessful.  

Due to the steep terrain and loose rocks, the decision was made to leave the man on the mountain overnight under the watchful eye of two park rangers from Lakewood.  The recovery operation resumed early Saturday morning when West Metro fire crews and coroner officials recovered the body using a high angle rope.

Paragliders are harnessed below a fabric wing and launch the craft by foot. It's unclear where the victim launched from or what caused the crash. An investigation is underway.