Netanya: Paraglider crashes into rocks, rescued in difficult operation

In a dramatic and dangerous cliffside rescue near Netanya's Argaman Beach this afternoon, a woman in her 40s was moderately injured after crashing into a rocky slope while paragliding. The incident occurred at the secluded Lagoon Beach area, a popular yet challenging spot for aerial sports along Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after midday when bystanders saw the woman’s paraglider lose control and spiral down, slamming into the jagged shoreline rocks. The woman, whose name has not yet been released, was left trapped between large boulders, unable to move.

Firefighters from the Netanya Fire and Rescue Station’s Special Rescue Unit rushed to the site. The unit, trained for high-risk terrain operations, conducted a complex rope rescue under sweltering heat and precarious cliff conditions. “This was an extremely challenging operation,” said Senior Fire Commander Golan Cohen-Tzedek. “The terrain was steep and dangerous, and the midday heat made every movement harder. We worked with precision and coordination to stabilize and extract her safely.”

Rescue personnel rappelled down to the injured woman, secured her with harnesses, and carefully lifted her in a stretcher up to safety. Medics from United Hatzalah, including first responders Raphael Kahan and Eliezer Elishayov, treated her on-site for multiple fractures. “She had fallen hard on the rocky slope. We provided urgent care at the scene, then evacuated her to Laniado Hospital,” the medics reported.

According to first responders, the woman remained conscious but in significant pain throughout the ordeal. She suffered fractures in her arms and legs but was listed in stable condition.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Weather conditions at the time were warm but not unusually windy, raising questions about possible equipment failure or piloting error.

Authorities reminded the public that while coastal paragliding is a popular activity, it carries inherent risks, especially near rocky or hard-to-access areas.