Hautes-Alpes: Dutch man dies in 20-meter hang-gliding fall during competition
A 65-year-old Dutch man tragically died on Sunday, August 17, 2025, during a hang-gliding competition in the Hautes-Alpes region of southeastern France, local firefighters confirmed.
Fatal accident caused by strong winds
The accident occurred when the man’s glider detached mid-flight, reportedly due to a sudden gust of wind. The victim fell approximately 20 meters and landed in a field in the commune of Val Buëch-Méouge, where a medical professional pronounced him dead at the scene.
Chabre Mountain: A popular site for gliders
The victim had taken off earlier from Chabre Mountain, a 1,352-meter-high peak well-known among paragliders and hang-gliding enthusiasts. He was participating in the competition and wearing an official competitor's bib at the time of the incident.
-
19:20
-
19:10
-
19:00
-
18:50
-
18:45
-
18:32
-
18:20
-
18:15
-
18:00
-
17:50
-
17:35
-
17:20
-
17:13
-
17:12
-
17:05
-
16:50
-
16:35
-
16:20
-
16:07
-
16:05
-
16:05
-
16:04
-
15:45
-
15:30
-
15:29
-
15:15
-
15:09
-
15:00
-
14:45
-
14:30
-
14:14
-
13:56
-
13:40
-
13:20
-
13:05
-
12:45
-
12:30
-
12:15
-
12:00
-
11:45
-
11:33
-
11:30
-
11:16
-
11:15
-
11:00
-
11:00
-
10:45
-
10:30
-
10:18
-
10:15
-
10:14
-
10:00
-
09:45
-
09:30
-
09:15
-
09:00
-
08:45
-
08:30
-
08:28
-
08:15
-
22:00
-
21:30
-
21:00
-
20:30
-
20:00
-
19:30
