STONE MOUNTAIN — This was something we’ve never seen before: A man with a parachute jumped off Stone Mountain.
It happened Tuesday night at sunset.
Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach spoke to the person who recorded video of the incredible sight.
Stewart Smith hikes Stone Mountain two to three times a week, but Tuesday he saw the paraglider under the bright yellow sail. The flight lasted about 2 and 1/2 minutes.
Smith said he heard ruffling of the chute, then looked over as the guy took a running leap over the edge, right above the carving.
Gehlbach learned the daredevil is from Switzerland and was here with a company doing maintenance on the skyride cables.
The man apparently planned this and took all his gear up, and at the end of the day decided to take the quick way down.
“His friends said he’s from Switzerland. He does this all the time in the Alps. He said Stone Mountain’s no big deal for him. It’s not quite the Swiss Alps,” Smith said.
The man landed in a wide-open parking lot but was immediately met by Stone Mountain police officers. They had a few questions for him, and ultimately let him off with a stern warning and a promise never to do it again.
If you are wondering, it is illegal to take off or land a glider, parachute, helicopter, hot air balloon or anything else from the top of Stone Mountain.
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