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Video: Search and rescue crews retrieve man injured while paragliding

Posted at 7:17 PM, May 21, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-22 00:15:11-04

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah -- Search and rescue crews were called out to an area near Pleasant Grove Wednesday evening after a man crashed while paragliding, and crews successfully extracted the injured man from the mountainside.

Reports of the injured man began to come in about 6:15 p.m., and Utah County search and rescue crews responded to his location.

Deputy Douglas Willis, Utah County Sheriff's Office, said crews rescued the 33-year-old man. The victim crashed in the mountains above Pleasant Grove High School, south of the Battle Creek area, and was able to call for help using his cellphone.

The man did not know where he was but told rescuers he could see a water tank below him, and officials used his description to narrow the field of search then located him. Utah County Search and Rescue crews hiked to the man, and a medical helicopter was called in to hoist him to safety. Officials provided video of the rescue, see the footage above.

The man suffered a fractured ankle and some bruises, and officials described his injuries as not being life-threatening.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.