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SCMP Reporter

A FAMILY outing turned into near tragedy for Shamshuipo Police District Commander Chief Superintendent Gerard Frith when he crashed into the hillside after ''losing wind'' in a paragliding accident in Sai Kung yesterday afternoon.

  The 54-year-old policeman was rescued in dramatic fashion with the aid of Civil Aid Services first aid personnel and a Government Flying Service helicopter.

  A qualified paragliding ''pilot'', Mr Frith was riding the winds with his son Nigel when he was blown off course by shifting winds while gliding atop the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung Country Park.

  An attempt to land brought the experienced flyer behind two hills where the winds were cut off, causing him to crash while his wife Barbara watched.

  Both legs were fractured just above the ankle and he was to undergo surgery last night to see if it would be necessary to insert pins into the more seriously damaged left leg.

  He was listed in fair condition last night.

  This was the second major upset for the Frith family this year - 15-year-old Michael was among the victims of the New Year tragedy in Lan Kwai Fong.

  Mrs Frith and Nigel went to the hospital yesterday afternoon but both declined to comment. A colleague said the family was handling the accident ''very well'' as Mr Frith was ''basically all right'', besides the fractures.

  Although first aid was administered at the scene, Mr Frith remained on the hillside until the Government Flying Service helicopter pulled him off.

  An ambulance officer and one of the helicopter crewmen were lowered down and all three hauled back up.

  ''The guy was obviously in a lot of pain,'' the helicopter pilot said.

  Mr Frith was flown to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he could be heard yelling from pain in the casualty ward for several minutes as he was being moved for X-rays.

  The accident occurred in wind conditions which were ''quite strong'', said the chairman of the Hongkong Paragliding Association, Mr Gus Scott.

  ''There was a bit of danger because there was a bit of wind in the morning and it became stronger in the afternoon,'' he said.

  ''The winds can get stronger once you are up in the air.''   Association officials will conduct an investigation into how changes to the wind conditions may have affected the flight.

  It is believed Mr Frith was using a new paraglider with a hi-tech design, but Mr Scott declined to comment on whether that played a part in the accident.

  Mr Frith was described as a ''safety conscious pilot'' with at least six months' experience in the sport.

  He had been considering applying for a higher level of qualification in the sport.

  He was a ''very competent and experienced'' paraglider who went up most weekends and had glided at the spot ''many, many times'', the colleague said.

  ''When he lost the wind, there was nothing he could do to control the situation,'' he said. ''Unfortunately you are in the hands of the gods when you're up there.''   The colleague speculated that he would go back up again soon.

  ''It's like falling off a bike - you have to get on again,'' the colleague said. ''I don't think he'll give up.''   The launch requires participants to take a running start from a hillside at least 150 metres above the ground, much like hang-gliding but with a parachute-type sail rather than a wing.



Police chief, 54, fractures legs in accident