Watch a hang glider endure terrifying accident (and somehow survive) - CNET

Suddenly, as his new Vimeo video shows, his hang glider snapped in two.

As the crowd gasped, (what was left of) his hang glider appeared to spin toward earth.

It looked like the two wings of an dying insect plummeting to the ground.

Thankfully, his parachute deployed and he landed safely.

Gjerde took to Facebook to explain what happened.

"I have lots of speed and get an abrupt pullout by accident. The reason for this is to [sic] high speed, and bent elbows on the bottom of the dive," he said.

He explained that he still has "sore eyes and head-ache after serious negative G-force. after glider collaps [sic], my haess was somewhat broken and I was sentrifuged [sic] head out."

I translate this as his saying it was an extremely frightening experience that has had serious repercussions on his health.

He said that when the hang glider snapped, "my vision failed and I struggled hard against g-force to get my rescue out."