On the morning of June 8, George Richmond, the 54-year-old British cinematographer whose visual work has shaped major Hollywood blockbusters, embarked on a long-distance cross-country paragliding flight from Bir Billing in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, heading toward the high-altitude Deo Tibba region in the Kullu mountains. What was meant to be an adventure among friends turned into a fight for survival within seconds.
Crash and Rescue
Over the rugged Deo Tibba terrain, Richmond crashed into the mountain, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation by local authorities and the Indian Air Force. Fellow paragliders raised the alarm, leading to a race against altitude, injury, and time. Rescuers evacuated Richmond from the accident site to a safer location, from where an IAF helicopter airlifted him to Kullu for initial medical care.
By the early hours of June 9, the cinematographer behind Deadpool & Wolverine, Rocketman, Free Guy, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Tomb Raider was rushed to the Advanced Trauma Centre of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. He arrived barely conscious, paralyzed in all four limbs, and fighting for every breath.
Severe Spinal Injuries
Clinical and radiological assessment at PGIMER revealed catastrophic injuries: a C1 vertebra fracture along with a fracture-dislocation at the C5-C6 level, resulting in quadriplegia. Such injuries carry a high risk of life-threatening respiratory compromise because the affected spinal segments are near those controlling diaphragmatic function. Richmond had broken his neck in two separate places; a marginally worse neural impact could have stopped his breathing entirely.
Immediate resuscitation followed Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols. After stabilization, Richmond was moved to the High Dependency Unit for intensive monitoring. The PGIMER trauma team, spanning orthopaedics, neurosurgery, anaesthesiology, critical care, and rehabilitation, worked through the assessment to develop a surgical strategy.
Complex Surgery Performed
The definitive operation took place on Thursday, June 12, four days after the accident, once the patient was optimally stabilized. Prof Vijay G Goni, Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at PGIMER, who led the multidisciplinary team, explained the complexity. The patient presented with a highly complex cervical spine fracture-dislocation with significant neurological impairment. A major milestone was achieved through fluoroscopy-guided closed reduction of the cervical fracture-dislocation, a technically demanding procedure that successfully restored spinal alignment and eliminated the need for combined anterior and posterior surgery, thereby reducing surgical morbidity.
Following satisfactory reduction, anterior cervical decompression, reconstruction, and stabilization were performed. The surgery involved removal of the damaged intervertebral disc and fractured elements causing neural compression, reconstruction with an interbody cage packed with bone graft substitute, and stabilization with a cervical plate and screws. The lead surgeon was Dr Vishal Kumar, Additional Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Prof Goni called it a combined effort, noting the protocol to wait for stabilization and wound healing, expressing guarded optimism.
World-Class Care at PGIMER
Prof Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER, emphasized the institution's commitment to providing timely, compassionate, and world-class medical care to every patient, regardless of nationality or background. He stated that the successful management of Richmond's injury reflects the strength of the integrated trauma care ecosystem, where specialists from multiple disciplines work seamlessly for rapid assessment, stabilization, and definitive treatment. Such complex spinal injuries demand advanced surgical expertise, meticulous planning, cutting-edge infrastructure, and coordinated teamwork, exemplifying PGIMER's preparedness to manage challenging emergencies with international standards.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Richmond is currently stable, conscious, and communicating effectively in the post-operative unit. His vitals are stable, and he is recovering. Early mobilization in a wheelchair has been planned as the first step in a comprehensive rehabilitation program over months. However, cervical spinal injuries of this severity require intensive neurological rehabilitation before meaningful assessment of limb function recovery. Doctors said immediate priorities are wound healing and neurological monitoring, with a fuller picture of motor and sensory recovery emerging in coming weeks.
Medical experts indicate that the extent of spinal cord damage, whether complete or partial, is decisive for recovery. A partial injury, where the cord is bruised rather than severed, offers more room for recovery. PGIMER doctors have not publicly characterized the extent beyond confirming quadriplegia at presentation, and sources indicate the neurological picture continues to evolve post-surgery.
Royal Hospitality
Richmond is not convalescing at a hotel or clinic but as a personal guest at the Patiala Mahal, the ancestral residence of former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The connection is Raninder Singh, the former CM's son and a close personal friend of Richmond. This Indian denouement marks a distinctly royal backdrop for a Hollywood cinematographer's recovery.
About George Richmond
George Richmond BSC is a British cinematographer known for action films, son of veteran cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond. He began as a camera operator before making his directorial photography debut with The Hide (2008). He built a reputation as one of Hollywood's most respected cinematographers, particularly for Deadpool & Wolverine, Rocketman, and Free Guy. He frequently collaborates with British filmmakers Matthew Vaughn and Dexter Fletcher, contributing to the Kingsman franchise and the Elton John biopic Rocketman. Recent credits include Argylle (2024) and Now You See Me: Now You Don't (2025).
Safety Concerns in Paragliding
This near-fatal accident is the latest in a series of serious incidents involving cross-country paragliding in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu-Kangra belt. The incident adds to a troubling pattern involving foreign nationals, intensifying scrutiny over lack of regulation and oversight in cross-district paragliding flights from Bir Billing to Manali and Kullu. Despite repeated warnings, authorities have yet to implement stringent safety protocols or enforce registration of take-off sites.
George Richmond survived, thanks to PGIMER's expertise in advanced cervical spine trauma, demonstrating what Indian public healthcare can achieve. But the mountains above Deo Tibba offer a stark reminder: for those who read the skies carelessly, there may be no second chance.
