Saudi Gazette report

TAIF — The Saudi security forces retrieved the body of a Saudi paraglider who fell to death after losing control while practicing the sport in Al-Hada Mountains in Taif.

Amin Mutair Al-Sufyani, the paraglider, jumped from the top of the mountain but encountered a rough descent as the area witnessed inclement weather with strong winds.

The winds buffeted and tossed the paraglider away from the safe zone toward a far area, where he was spotted by people, using binoculars and viewing lenses, sailing over the Al-Kar Road.

When he failed to respond to the calls over phone, a massive search was launched to locate him. Police, with the help volunteers, found him dead following his fall in a rugged area at the bottom of Al-Hada Mountains.

According to reports from his social media followers, Al-Sufyani’s crash and eventual death was likely caused due to a parachute malfunction as it failed to open during the jump.

Rida Al-Sufyani, Amin’s brother, said that his brother had a passion for paragliding and was a professional practitioner of the sport but bad weather could have been a cause that led to his tragic end.

“Amin was going to marry after the Hajj holidays, but the tragic death also brought about an abrupt end to all his dreams. When we lost contact with him over phone in the evening, we informed the security agencies that spotted the dead body at the bottom of the mountain,” he said.

Journalist Raed Al-Omari said that Al-Sufyani had a deep passion for flying ever since his childhood, and that he used to climb tall mountains in the village.

“Afterwards he developed a passion for paragliding and joined the company of those practicing this sport until he learned it and became proficient in it. He used to go to the Badr governorate to practice flying,” he said.

Al-Omari recalled that Al-Sufyani paraglided successfully at the same place where he met his tragic end just before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The death of Al-Sufyani went viral in Twiter with the hashtag #Taif paraglider lost. Several videos are being circulated in the social media showing the moment of Al-Sufyani flying in his canopy from the heights of Jabal Al-Kar on Friday evening, while a strong storm led to him losing control and disappearing from view.

These videos were also instrumental in helping the security personnel to locate the site of Al-Sufyani’s fall in the rugged terrain.