Paraglider's cry of joy causes havoc (From The Argus)

Paraglider's cry of joy causes havoc

12:43pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008 in News By Lee Gibbs

Paraglider Jon Fox dropped in for a cup of tea with a pal – and sparked a full-scale emergency.

The 33-year-old landed safely in a field behind the home of fellow paraglider Malcolm Parsons.

But the adrenaline-fuelled whoop he gave as he descended was mistaken for a cry of terror by a concerned member of public who called 999.

An ambulance, two police cars and a police helicopter were scrambled to the scene – only to find Jon enjoying a mug of tea with his feet up.

Jon, an experienced paragliding instructor who has flown all over the world, said: “I was calmly sitting there having a cup of tea in Malcolm’s front room when we heard this chopper.

It was flying really low over the house and Malcolm jokingly said to me, ‘They’re looking for you, mate.’ “We walked out over the back field and saw three or four police officers running up and down and a few paramedics as well.

“They told us they were looking for a parachutist so I said, ‘I think you might be looking for me.’ “They gave me a really funny look because I was stood there in shorts and T-shirt with a mug of tea in my hand. I’d taken off my helmet and harness.

After they realised it was all OK and it was me that had been spotted coming in to land we all had a good laugh about it.”

Jon, who lives in Brighton, added: “I can’t remember screaming or whooping as I came down but I suppose I must have done.

“I’m grateful someone called 999 and that there was such a quick response because I could have been lying there with a broken back.

“But it was all a false alarm and I’m sorry if it wasted police resources.”

Jon, an instructor with Sussex Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Club, took off from the top of the Devil’s Dyke, near Brighton, last Wednesday afternoon.

Malcolm, a 57-year-old carpenter, whose bungalow in Brighton backs on to the Downs, said Jon called him on his mobile from the sky.

Malcolm said: “The phone rang and it was Jon saying he was over my house and was dropping in for a cup of tea. Then he gave an almighty whoop and swooped down with a perfect text book landing.

“He’s a very competent flyer and knew exactly what he was doing.

“A few minutes later we heard the helicopter. There were police and ambulance men everywhere.”

Malcolm’s wife Philipa, 57, added: “Jon came in like the man off the Milk Tray adverts, except he didn’t bring any chocolates with him.”

A resident in a neighbouring street said: “The paragliding guy came down really low over the houses and disappeared behind a roof.

“He was screaming as he came down so someone called 999 on their mobile phone, fearing the worst.

“I didn’t see it myself but he must have been screaming because of the adrenaline rush rather than because he was going to crash.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “We were called by a member of the public at about 3.50pm on Wednesday who said he’d seen a paraglider crash land on the Downs. He said the paraglider looked out of control and he thought he was shouting for help.

“A helicopter and a couple of cars were sent and the paragliding kit was quickly located in the field. Then we found the paraglider who had been having a cup of tea and wondered what all the fuss was about.”