Canadian Paraglider Found Dead, Australian Rescued from Himachal’s Dhauladhar Range

A 27-year-old Canadian paraglider, Megan Elizabeth, was discovered deceased in the rugged Dhauladhar range, while a 47-year-old Australian adventurer, identified only as Jacob, was successfully rescued from a perilous perch in the same mountainous expanse over the past 48 hours. Both incidents unfolded during flights originating from the world-renowned Bir-Billing paragliding site in Kangra district, a UNESCO-recognised hub that draws over 50,000 thrill-seekers annually for its soaring thermals and Himalayan vistas.

Elizabeth, an experienced solo flier from Canada, launched from Billing on Sunday, October 19, 2025, aiming for a landing at Chogan, but veered off course amid unfamiliar terrain, crashing near Talan Jot—north of the sacred Himani Chamunda temple—at approximately 3,900 meters elevation. The rescue operation, spearheaded by Baijnath authorities and volunteers from the Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), highlighted the inherent risks of the sport in this remote, weather-prone region.

Elizabeth's tragedy underscores the unforgiving nature of high-altitude paragliding, where sudden gusts and disorientation can prove fatal. Anurag Sharma, BPA president, noted her proficiency but emphasised the challenge of navigating the Dhauladhar's labyrinthine ridges without local knowledge. Rescue teams, including climber Rahul Singh—who was air-dropped to the site Sunday evening—reached her late that night, finding her unresponsive from a combination of crash injuries on jagged rocks and hypothermia in sub-zero conditions.

Additional team members arrived Monday morning, October 20, relocating her body 500 metres uphill for extraction. It was airlifted to Gaggal Airport, where post-mortem procedures are underway before handover to the Canadian Embassy. This marks the latest in a string of misfortunes at Bir-Billing, Asia's premier paragliding spot, where unpredictable winds and limited visibility have long tested even seasoned pilots.

In a parallel scare, Jacob's distress call echoed from the Poling-Barot valley in the neighbouring Kullu district, where he was marooned at 3,302 metres after his glider faltered during a separate flight from Bir-Billing. Local sources reported his SOS prompted a swift coordinated response involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and BPA spotters, who monitored via radio and drone surveillance.

Rescuers, navigating steep inclines and fading light, hoisted him to safety by Monday afternoon and ferried him to Chogan base camp for medical checks. Jacob, uninjured but exhausted, recounted battling downdrafts that forced an emergency landing; his timely alert via satellite phone averted a worse outcome. Officials praised the integration of GPS trackers—mandatory since 2023—as pivotal, reducing response times from hours to minutes in such isolated zones.

Also Read: Tata Trusts Confirms Venu Srinivasan as Lifetime Trustee, Awaits Call on Mehli Mistry

Over the past five years, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed 26 paragliding mishaps in Kangra and Mandi districts alone, claiming 12 lives—including several foreigners—and injuring dozens more, with some victims never recovered due to sheer inaccessibility. These events have intensified calls for enhanced safety protocols, including mandatory weather briefings, advanced gear inspections, and expanded rescue infrastructure funded by the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation.

Experts advocate for stricter licensing and pilot acclimatisation programmes, given the site's allure as a training ground for international competitions like the Paragliding World Cup. As investigations into Elizabeth's crash proceed, authorities urge tandem flights for novices and real-time monitoring apps. Amid the grief, Jacob's survival offers a reminder of the delicate balance between adventure and peril in the Himalayas, where the Dhauladhar's majestic peaks continue to beckon—and humble—global explorers.

Also Read: RBI Says GST Cuts to Cushion India’s Economy from US Tariff Shock