Paraglider Seriously Injured In Raritan Bay Off Keansburg

KEANSBURG, NJ — A 46-year-old man was airlifted to the hospital after he was seriously injured in a paragliding incident just off Keansburg beach Wednesday. Eyewitnesses said that he tried to take off from the beach just yards from the Keansburg Fishing Pier, but something went wrong and he plunged face first into the water.

The incident happened at 2:21 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 3, Keansburg police announced on Facebook: Keansburg police were dispatched to the beach, approximately 100 yards west of the Keansburg fishing pier, for a call of an unconscious man who fell from a paraglider.

Upon arrival, the victim was conscious and alert but sustained multiple injuries. Witnesses reported that after the man launched his glider off the beach, the glider veered right and when he tried to correct himself, he lost control and landed face first into the water near the shoreline. They ran to his assistance and pulled him onto the beach.

Keansburg EMS arrived on scene, assessed his injuries, and requested a MONOC medevac helicopter. The victim was then secured to a backboard, placed into a Humvee, and transported off the beach to the ambulance, where he was ultimately taken to the St. John’s Field and airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center by medevac.

This incident was handled by Patrolman Brian VonBargen, with the assistance of Captain Wayne Davis, Lieutenant William Brink, Lieutenant Dennis Valle, Sergeant Joseph Jankowski, Patrolman John Murray and Patrolman Christopher Hosey.

Keansburg police thanked the witnesses who acted quickly to rescue the man from the water.

Image via Shutterstock