Chandigarh: The paraglider rescued by the Indian Air Force from the remote mountaintops of Kullu's Deo Tibba region in Himachal Pradesh has been identified as Hollywood cinematographer George Richmond. He is the visual mastermind behind blockbusters like 'Deadpool & Wolverine', 'Free Guy', and the Elton John biopic 'Rocketman'. Severely injured in the crash, the 54-year-old underwent spinal surgery on Thursday at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
Details of the Accident
The accident occurred on June 9 at an altitude of around 12,000 feet. Richmond was on a multi-day 'bivouac flying' adventure, a style of cross-country paragliding where pilots fly by day and camp in remote wilderness by night. Having taken off from the world-famous paragliding site at Bir Billing, he crashed on June 8 during a difficult take-off attempt from the base of Mt. Deo Tibba, which at 19,688 feet is the second tallest peak in the Pir Panjal Range.
Rescue Operation
Fellow paragliders alerted the Kullu administration, which informed the British embassy. A rescue operation was launched immediately. Two IAF helicopters flew in to evacuate Richmond. Within hours, he was flown to Bhuntar Airport and then shifted to Kullu Regional Hospital. After initial stabilization, he was flown to the advanced trauma centre at PGI-Chandigarh, 220 kilometers away, as a high-priority 'red-alert' emergency.
Medical Treatment
A multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, orthopaedic spine specialists, and cardiac anaesthetists was immediately mobilized. Led by Dr Vishal Kumar, a senior orthopaedic spine surgeon holding prestigious British fellowships (FRCS), the team performed an intricate emergency surgery on June 11. Dr Vishal stated, "The entire newly aligned section of the neck was permanently anchored using a titanium plate secured with four medical screws to ensure absolute structural stability. Now we are confident of making him mobile in a few days."
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About the Author: Shimona Kanwar is a senior assistant editor with The Times of India, who has been with TOI since 2005. She covers health and science. With a background in science and English literature, she attempts to simplify complex health and science stories, making them accessible and engaging for a wide audience. Shimona is passionate about crafting narratives that resonate, ensuring her reporting is not only informative but also enjoyable to read, free of jargon, and deeply connected to people's lives.
