French Cops Fine Paraglider For Breaking Lockdown Rules

Story By: Ernest Bio BogoreSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A paraglider has been fined for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules after patrolling French cops spotted him in the air and went to the nearby beach to wait for him to land.

The paraglider, whose named and age has not been disclosed, was sighted setting off from the 840-metre peak of Puncho d’Agast which overlooks the town of Millau in the department of Aveyron located in the southern French region of Occitanie.

According to local media, eagle-eyed cops spotted the paraglider in the air and went to wait for him on the beach.

When the cheeky citizen touched down on the sand, waiting cops promptly presented him with a fine for 135 EUR (119 GBP) for breaching lockdown rules.

Police spokesperson Pierre-Henri Calmejane said: “We contacted the paragliding federation to explain to them that our hospital emergency rooms, which are otherwise busy, did not want to take care of an injured person who had crashed therefore it was necessary to put a stop to the practice.”

On 17th March, the French government imposed a lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with rule-breakers facing fines for taking part in non-essential activities.

Paragliding was not deemed to be an essential practice by the French decision makers.

As of 2nd April, France has registered 57,780 cases of COVID-19 and 4,032 related deaths.

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