Paraglider pilot rescued

A paraglider pilot who had been missing for two days was found Monday.

Blaine County Sheriff Gene Ramsey said Guy Anderson was last seen around 1:20 pm Saturday about seven air miles northeast of Hailey above Quigley Canyon. He was located near Fish Creek in Bradsfield Canyon by an Idaho National Guard helicopter crew.

After he was found, Anderson was transported to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center at around 3:30 pm Monday for assessment. He was being evaluated for injuries to his left arm, ribs, spine and possible internal injuries. The extent of those injuries is unknown.

Anderson, 49, is a British citizen. He was in Sun Valley to participate in the Paragliding World Cup and had a 60-mile planned flight course that stretched from Bald Mountain in Ketchum to Arco.

“He is considered to be an elite pilot with a good sense of aviation, resourceful, fit and strong willed,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

A second pilot, identified as Juan Becerra of Venezuela, was also reported missing around 4:20 p.m. Saturday north of Carey. A glider and pack were found about 11:35 pm. Becerra was located safe and unharmed shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday.

The sheriff’s office did not say why the pilots went missing, or if the incidents were otherwise related.

Blaine County Search and Rescue Command launched a formal search for Anderson early Sunday morning. Civil Air Patrol planes were dispatched from Idaho Falls and Pocatello and an Idaho National Guard helicopter also participated in the search.

The sheriff’s office said about 70 people were involved in the search for Anderson, including many of his fellow pilots in the PWC competition.