Condolences and words of support continue to pour in after a well-known Hout Bay paraglider fell to his death on Tuesday afternoon. Anthony Allen (52), affectionately known as “Flying Ant”, was a pillar in the small seaside community, and the founder of the Hout Bay neighbourhood watch.
Allen was discovered in critical condition on the front patio of a house shortly after 2pm on Tuesday. Paramedics from ER24 arrived to assist the injured paraglider, arriving just after generic paramedics, Llandudno Lifeguards and South African Police Services.
Allen sadly succumbed to his injuries shortly after paramedics began treating him at the scene.
Speaking to News24, a spokesperson for the South African Hang Gliding And Paragliding Association (SAHPA), Ronnie Beukes, said that Allen had had years of paragliding experience.
Although it is not yet clear what has caused Allen to tumble down to earth, Beukes is of the opinion that there may have been turbulence as he was coming in to land. “We [are] try[ing] to get a conclusion and findings to teach people … how to avoid this in future,” said Beukes.
A friend of the paraglider, who requested that News24 keep their identity anonymous, said that Allen was also behind many criminals and thieves being caught during his neighbourhood watch patrols.
“Cars have been stuck in sand and he helped to take them out with his Jeep. Trees have fallen down and he has been there,” the friend said. “I recently went to Imizamo Yethu with him and a whole lot of police looking for criminals. Many hours were spent doing foot patrols.”
Hout Bay Police Station Warrant Officer, Tanya Lesch, also offered her sympathies to the Allen family.
Allen had previously survived a paragliding accident in 2000.
Picture: Anthony Allen/Facebook