Parachuting Santa gets stuck in power lines
The Fire Department rescued him and paramedics declared him fit to fly on Christmas Eve.
Next time he should leave the navigation to Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.
A Northern California-based Father Christmas flying on a powered parachute had to be rescued by fire fighters after he became entangled in power lines.
The incident happened shortly after he took off near a school in Rio Linda to deliver candy canes to local children.
He flew into a maze of power lines and wound up dangling upside down in them, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman told KCRA-TV.
The man, who wasn’t identified, was not injured.
Pictures from the rescue shows the red-white-and-blue aircraft suspended overhead as Santa sat uncomfortably fastened in the pilot seat.
Colleen Bousliman, who lives nearby, said pilots often fly overhead but this was the first time she had seen Father Christmas doing so.
Power was shut off during the rescue and Metro Fire of Sacramento shared video footage of Santa finally being lowered to safety.
“We are happy to report Santa is uninjured and will be ready for Christmas next week,” department paramedics said. “But preferably flying in his sleigh with Rudolph leading the way!”
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