A thrill-seeking speed flyer, Vyacheslav Gribanov, tragically met his end in Turkey after crashing into rocks on Babadag mountain following a nearly 6,000ft launch. This marks the third fatality in recent weeks on the Turkish Riviera among free flyers. The adrenaline-fueled sport of speed flying involves rapid descents near the ground using specialized small, high-performance wings.
Gribanov lost control shortly after takeoff during his solo flight, leading to his fatal fall, as per reports. Video footage captured his final flight before the tragic accident. Speed flying, known for its high risk, entails speeds up to 95mph with flights dangerously close to the ground. The use of smaller wings allows for increased velocity and steeper descents. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash following the loss of Gribanov’s camera.
Another flyer’s footage revealed the location of Gribanov’s fall. The experienced paraglider from St Petersburg, who owned a construction company, had recently transitioned to speed flying and was undergoing training. Reports mention the deaths of a German tourist in a flying incident and a Pole during a descent as a passenger, labeling the number of fatalities as “unusual.”
In a separate incident in July, extreme sports influencer Andreas Tonelli perished after a bike crash that led to a 600ft fall into a ravine in the Italian Dolomites. Tonelli, a 48-year-old with a sizable Instagram following, was found in Val Gardena’s Vallunga area after a search operation. Authorities suspect he tumbled from the mountain into the ravine post a bicycle mishap. Tonelli’s social media depicted his adventurous mountain biking escapades, with a last Instagram story showing him smiling at the summit.
Tonelli had been arranging bike tours since 2003 across Italy, Europe, and worldwide. Known for his passion for photography, hiking, and climbing, he had proudly shared his ascent of the active volcano Nevado Ojos de Salado in Chile. His achievements included conquering the challenging L’Onda di Hokusai (‘Hokusai Wave’) route in the Dolomites and a successful climb of the Tupungato volcano in central Chile.