It was 39-year-old Fredrik Monason Zachariassen who lost his life, the Luftsportforbundet writes on its website:
“It is with sadness that we have to inform you that Fredrik Monason Zachariassen died in a tragic accident with a paraglider in Loen on 2 May.”
The accident will be investigated
The Luftsportforbundet is now working to put together a commission of inquiry that can investigate the incident, and has started work to collect data.
The 39-year-old was a member of the Drammen & Omegn paraglider club and the Sande paraglider club. The Norwegian Air Sports Association is now asking everyone to refrain from speculation on social media for the sake of relatives, friends and those who were present when the accident happened.
Probably fell several tens of meters
The paraglider must have made an abrupt 180 degree turn into the rock face immediately after takeoff. The accident scene is described by the police as steep and rugged.
According to police chief Roger Gundersen at Stad police station, there is a high probability that the 39-year-old may have fallen tens of metres, Bergens Tidende writes.
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Both the air ambulance, rescue helicopter, fire brigade and police moved out after the accident. Life-saving first aid was administered, but life could not be saved.
– It affects all of us
Loen is one of the country’s most popular base jumping areas, and attracts athletes from all over the world. According to NRK, there have been several serious accidents in the same area in recent years. Since 2019 alone, there have been four fatal accidents there.
– This is just as sad every time. It affects all of us who are at work and we who are around here, says general manager of Loen Skylift, Richard Grov.
He reminds that aerial sports always have an element of risk in them, and that it is up to each individual athlete to assess skills against risk.
Fredrik Monason Zachariassen leaves behind a child. The girlfriend also witnessed the accident.
