An American paragliding athlete accidentally got caught on a high-voltage power pole. Officials had to cut the power, causing a blackout across all of Koh Larn, before climbing up to rescue him and take him to the hospital. He was found with burn wounds from electric shock and abrasions.
At 14:30 today (12 Jan 2026), the radio center of the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation in Pattaya received a report of an accident involving a foreign paragliding athlete who got stuck on top of a high-voltage power pole. The incident occurred near Ta Waen Beach, Village 7, Na Kluea Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. Rescue volunteers and Pattaya City Police officers stationed at Koh Larn were immediately dispatched to the scene.
At the scene, many Thai and foreign tourists gathered to watch. On examining the high-voltage power pole over 10 meters high, they found the foreigner identified as Michael, 55, an American. He was wearing paragliding gear, with harness and canopy lines caught on the pole, leaving his body hanging upside down, head toward the ground, crying out for help.
The rescue was initially difficult. The rescue team had to coordinate with the electricity authority to cut the power supply to carry out the rescue. This power cut caused a blackout across all of Koh Larn. After nearly an hour, the rescue team safely brought the man down. Examination revealed abrasions on both legs and burns from electric shock. The team urgently transported him to Ban Koh Larn Hospital.
Upon inquiry, it was learned that Michael is a licensed paragliding and skydiving athlete, holding a license from the Aeronautical Sports Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage. He had climbed to the top of Koh Larn hill (several hundred meters high) before launching his paraglider. The sport is known as "paragliding" or "gliding." While descending toward Ta Waen Beach, he missteered and got stuck on a high-voltage power pole, resulting in injuries. Initially, he was taken to Ban Koh Larn Hospital and is being prepared for transfer to Pattaya for further treatment.