Paraglider fell 500 feet off the sky after parachute partially collapsed – rescuers couldn’t believe what they saw next
Seconds of chaos in the sky turned into a rescue that few expected after a powered paraglider plunged nearly 500 feet into the ocean off Florida’s coast. On Friday, January 9, 2026, near Ocean Reef Park in Riviera Beach, 52-year-old Brian Wenglarz experienced a terrifying malfunction when his parachute partially collapsed midair, sending him careening toward the water. As reported by WFLX on January 12, 2026, witnesses watched in disbelief as the fall unfolded, but quick-thinking lifeguards and a helpful bystander turned what could have been a tragedy into a survival story that amazed rescuers and onlookers alike.
Lifeguard Sarah Williamson with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue was scanning the water when she noticed something was off. “I noticed the paraglider kind of going in an interesting pattern,” she said. A strong gust of wind appeared to knock the craft off balance, and the chute began to fail. Williamson immediately radioed her partner, John Swendel, and grabbed rescue equipment, sprinting to the water. "Within seconds of him crashing into the water, I just started running. We grabbed our rescue tube and our rescue board and paddled out in tandem." The pair paddled out together as cellphone video from a witness captured Wenglarz’s dramatic fall. The Riviera Beach Police Department also shared a Facebook post showing footage of the crash, highlighting the parachute’s collapse and the rapid response of lifeguards. The visuals emphasized just how close Wenglarz came to serious injury before help arrived.
The man hit the water tangled in lines, but assistance was already closing in. A snorkeler nearby dove underwater to free him from the parachute cords. “He was a godsend,” Williamson said, noting they did not have masks and needed help underwater. A witness immediately called 911. Fire rescue, police, and lifeguards all arrived within minutes. Wenglarz had taken off from Ocean Cay Park in Jupiter and traveled south before the crash. Despite the height of the fall, he suffered only cuts and scrapes and was wearing a helmet at the time. Williamson added, “Once I got out there and I saw that he was above water, not drowning, and alive, I was so proud to like just get out there and bring him back in because it could be so much worse.”
Rescuers said the outcome could have been far worse. “When I heard the number (that the paraglider fell from), I was quite blown away. Five hundred feet is an incredible thing to survive,” Williamson said. Swendel commented that Wenglarz was in “surprisingly good shape,” which came as a relief. He added, "It stunned me," in conversation with ABC News. Police body camera footage showed the damaged gear pulled from the water as responders secured the scene. Williamson said Wenglarz was full of adrenaline and in shock but alert. She later reminded everyone of the importance of safety, “Fly near a lifeguard, swim near a lifeguard. Always be near safety.” She also expressed her gratitude about the incident, saying, “It was a perfect situation, and it could have gone so much worse. I’m just happy with the outcome.”