A thrill-seeking speed flyer met a tragic end during a vacation in Turkey. Vyacheslav Gribanov, aged 37, crashed into rocks on Babadag mountain after taking off from nearly 6,000ft. This marks the third fatality in recent weeks for free flyers on the Turkish Riviera. Speed flying, a high-energy sport involving swift descents near the ground using a compact, high-performing wing, is known for its risks.
Reports indicate that Gribanov lost control shortly after launching on his solo flight, leading to a fatal fall. Video footage captured the moment he embarked on his final flight, which ended in disaster. With speeds reaching up to 95mph and flying in close proximity to the ground, the sport poses significant dangers. Gribanov’s camera was lost in the crash, prompting an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy.
A fellow flyer’s footage revealed the location of the incident. Gribanov, an experienced paraglider and owner of a construction firm in St. Petersburg, had recently transitioned to speed flying under the guidance of an instructor. Reports mention the deaths of a German tourist in a flying mishap and a Polish individual during a descent as passengers, labeling the number of fatalities as “uncommon.”
In a separate incident back in July, an extreme sports influencer lost his life after crashing his bike and falling 600ft into a ravine. Andreas Tonelli’s family raised concerns when he did not return from a ride in the Italian Dolomites, prompting a search operation. Tonelli, aged 48, with a sizable Instagram following showcasing his adventurous mountain biking exploits, was found in a ravine in Val Gardena.
Authorities suspect that Tonelli tumbled from the mountain into the ravine following a bicycle accident. His social media posts, including a pre-fall Instagram story from the summit, highlighted his passion for travel. Known for organizing bike trips since 2003 across Italy, Europe, and globally, Tonelli was also an avid photographer, hiker, and climber. His achievements included conquering challenging routes like the L’Onda di Hokusai in the Dolomites and scaling the Tupungato volcano in Chile.