Para-Life Rescue!

Narrator: The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro—or Rio, as it is commonly known—is

one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its combination of impressive coastline
with absolutely stunning mountains attracts people from all over the world. Sports
like paragliding have long been very popular in this beautiful coastal region. And now
there is a new type of glider in town; it’s called the paramotor. It consists of a
lightweight engine and a large propeller. Both are strapped to the back of the pilot.

The aircraft was originally invented for sports and leisure. But these days, it’s saving
lives. The use of paramotors for search and rescue began several years ago when
Brazilian paragliding champion and instructor Ruy Marra was flying a tour over
Copacabana Beach in Rio.

Ruy Marra, Para-Life Rescue: I was flying over Copacabana Beach in 1995, doing
advertisement for a company with paramotor, when I saw a woman drowning under
me. And then I was very worried. I have a life preserver for myself, and then I had
the idea to use and to give her. So I put it on my leg, I came down because it is easier
to maneuver the paramotor. I shout her, and then I gave her the life preserver.
That’s the way it was with the first rescue in the world paramotor.

Narrator: Since that first rescue, Marra has founded a private business and
developed the Para-Life Rescue System into an important component of beach
safety all around Brazil. Over the past few years his staff of 20 people has been
responsible for over 80 rescues. Para-Life pilots are now often cheered as they take
off and land.

Initially, Marra had to receive government approval for his Para-Life business. He
also had to get a cooperation agreement from the lifeguard association. The
lifeguards turned out to be big fans of the system. They work with the Para-Life
teams by communicating through two-way radios. This has greatly expanded the
lifeguards’ search-and-rescue capabilities.

Gabriel Vasconcelos, Lifeguard: It is a great help to us because it really helps to have

an aerial view of the beach and the swimmers offshore. Once a person is sinking, the
paramotor pilot can drop a life preserver to them and sustain them until we get
there.

This page may be photocopied. Cengage Learning © 2013 NOT FOR SALE
Narrator: Para-Life pilots prepare for their flights by strapping themselves into a
lightweight but powerful frame. The frame holds the propeller and a small backpack
equipped with a life preserver, binoculars, and two-way radio. The small motor
keeps the pilot in the air for up to three hours and allows the aircraft get down to
the water quite rapidly.

Once a victim is discovered, the pilot first calls in to the lifeguards. Then, the pilot
flies against the wind to reduce flight speed and maneuvers close enough to drop
the life preserver to the swimmer. The pilot then continues to fly above the victim
until the lifeguards arrive.

The beaches of Rio can get extremely crowded during the three-month-long high
season. During this period, three Para-Life teams with two pilots each work
Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays—as long as the winds are manageable. To
identify the highest-risk areas for swimmers, pilots also look for dangerous rip
currents. A rip current is a strong surface flow of water that’s moving towards the
sea from nearer to the shore. Para-Life pilots can identify them because they are
lighter in color than normal waves when seen from above.

Marra’s Para-Life system has received interest from groups in many countries that
want to develop safe, dependable rescue systems. Marra is planning to start a
Para-Life program in Brazil that teaches both essential piloting skills and
water-rescue skills. He also intends to offer a paramedic course. In the future, Marra
is still going to be saving people from drowning at the beach. But, if his plans go well,
he’ll also be teaching people everywhere how to use the Para-Life Rescue System.

Marra: My long-term idea is to train people in other countries to make this . . . to use
the Para-Life Rescue System and help the lifeguards and push down the numbers of
people drowning on the beach.

Narrator: Hopefully someday soon, everyone’s beaches can be safer With the
Para-Life Rescue System!

This page may be photocopied. Cengage Learning © 2013 NOT FOR SALE