A British national who sustained critical injuries in a paragliding accident in the high-altitude Deo Tibba region near Manali was rescued in a challenging operation involving local authorities, emergency responders, and the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday.The injured paraglider, identified as George Richmond from the United Kingdom, was part of a group of five pilots undertaking a long-distance cross-country flight from Bir-Billing in Kangra district to the Deo Tibba area.According to officials, Richmond crashed in the rugged mountainous terrain near Deo Tibba during the flight. His fellow paragliders immediately alerted the Manali administration about the accident.Upon receiving the information, the district administration, fire brigade personnel and rescue teams launched a coordinated search and rescue operation.The mission proved difficult due to the remote location, high altitude and challenging terrain of the accident site. Rescue teams trekked through the mountainous region to reach the injured pilot and provided him with preliminary medical assistance.After several hours of efforts, rescuers successfully evacuated Richmond from the accident site. He was first brought to a safer location on a stretcher before being airlifted by an IAF Cheetah helicopter.The helicopter transported him to Bhuntar airport, from where he was shifted to the Regional Hospital in Kullu for treatment.Kullu Deputy Commissioner Anurag Chander Sharma said the injured British national was provided immediate medical care after being flown to Bhuntar.Considering the seriousness of his injuries, doctors referred him to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, and he was subsequently shifted there by ambulance for advanced treatment.The latest incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with long-distance paragliding flights in the Himalayan region. Similar accidents involving foreign pilots have been reported in recent years.In October 2025, a Russian paraglider, Nikita Vasitov, was injured after crashing near Solang Nala in Manali and had to be rescued by local authorities.In the same month, three foreign pilots who had taken off from Bir-Billing were stranded in the higher reaches of Kullu and were rescued through a helicopter operation.Earlier, on October 30, 2024, Czech Republic paraglider Dita Misurcova lost her life after a crash near Marhi on the Manali-Rohtang route.Adventure sports experts and local authorities have repeatedly stressed the need for strict adherence to safety protocols, weather assessments and flight planning, particularly during cross-country paragliding expeditions across the high Himalayan terrain.The recurring incidents have renewed calls for stronger regulation and monitoring of long-haul paragliding activities in Himachal Pradesh.