Amazing pictures: Yorkshire paraglider plummets 2,000ft - and lives

A PARAGLIDER from West Yorkshire was saved by a tree after his canopy collapsed and he plummeted 2,000ft.
Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: CascadeHuddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade
Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey. He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade

Sam Cullingworth, 44, a bodybuilder, actor and personal trainer, was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.

Fortunately he became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was left dangling until a pal and emergency services arrived to get him down.

Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: CascadeHuddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade
Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey. He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade

“I thought this is it, I’m going to die,” said Sam, from Kirkburton, near Huddersfield. “I hit the trees but, apart from scratches, I got away scot-free.”

Eighteen-stone Sam was on holiday in Turkey when the thrill-seeking trip turned to horror.

It was the second time he’d had a brush with death after he broke his back in four places in a paragliding fall in 2006.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The tree he landed in was on a remote mountainside, meaning he was left dangling in his harness until he could be rescued.

Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: CascadeHuddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade
Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey. He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade

He was able to phone a friend who came to rescue him with the aid of emergency services.

After he was cut down, he had to walk for two hours from the hillside, carrying his paragliding kit in temperatures of 40C.

Sam said: “I went into a deep spiral that sent me flying 90mph sideways. It was like being on a roller-coaster.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I threw out my reserve parachute but I was falling at about four and a half metres per second. I’m so glad I’m still here.”

Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: CascadeHuddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade
Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey. He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade

Sam said he was pretty shaken up by his latest ordeal but said it won’t let it put him off.

As well as working as a personal trainer, he goes rock-climbing, dives, rides a motorbike and is a professional bodybuilder, once winning the World Fitness Federation Mr World title.

Fort William-born Sam, who has starred in numerous films including Bronson, a portrayal of one of Britain’s most notorious prisoners, Charles Bronson, added: “I was very lucky, it was a close escape.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Last year Justin Clarke admitted he was lucky to be alive after a similar paragliding session in Turkey went dangerously wrong.

Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: CascadeHuddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey.
He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade
Huddersfield paraglider Sam Cullingworth was caught by a fierce 90mph crosswind in Turkey. He became tangled in the branches of a cedar tree, preventing him from smashing into the ground, and escaped with just a few cuts. Picture: Cascade

And in 2010, Roger Parker was left trapped on a cliff ledge for 14 hours on the same mountain where Sam crashed.

The Bristol grandfather suffered a broken shoulder, elbow and foot after his tandem paraglider pilot crashed into the side of the cliff.

He said: “Anyone who comes out of something like that is very lucky.”

Sam Cullingworth was left dangling in his harness until his rescuers cut him free.