Paramotorist Ryan Irwin experienced engine failurewhile flying above Folsom Lake in California.
As he lost altitude, he quickly and competently unbuckled himself from the craft, before he and the paramotor fell into the lake.
But getting unbuckled in the nick of time was just his first bit of good luck.
Turns out Irwin was flying over the lake to watch the local Sheriff’s Department’s search and rescue training.
So that whole “training” situation became a reality, as the team sprang into action, pulling Irvin away from his craft, into the helicopter, and back to land — talk about a lucky break!
Irwin shared some high-fives with the crew, thanking them for the rescue.
Near the end of the video you can hear Irwin tell his rescuer this isn’t the first time his aircraft experienced engine failure.
Ryan Irwin: “I went down last time I was out here … I put these flotation devices on it, it hits the water and they, you know, blow up.”
Those flotation devices you saw earlier in the video were installed by Irwin in case it ever happened again.
And clearly that was a good idea … whether it was actually a good idea to take flight again after an engine failure is another argument.
Ryan Irwin: “This is happening.”
