#232 An Impossible Story of Survival with Ben Lewis

This is one of the craziest flying and remarkable survival stories you’ll ever hear. In this conversation, Canadian pilot and doctor Ben Lewis recounts his harrowing experience during a major cloudsuck incident while paragliding in Bir, India. He shares his background as a pilot, the intimidating nature of mountain flying, and the factors that are contributing to the carnage occurring this season in the Himalayas. Ben details the day of his incident while attempting to beat his personal best, describing the weather conditions; his decision-making process; and then the total loss of control as his flight instrument recorded a vertical ascent of 23 M/S in a hail storm that took him to over 7300 meters (over 24,000′)! Shortly before passing out from the negative G forces and exhausted from trying to control his wing Ben resigned himself to death. But fate had other plans for Ben. Eventually the cloud spit him out and Ben plummeted unconscious to the ground at 15-18 meters per second. He didn’t regain consciousness until he found himself hanging from a tree only a meter from the ground, alive but mostly blind and severely injured. After the dramatic cascade Ben details the challenges of self-rescue, the many mistakes of the day, and the emotional toll of the experience. Ben reflects on the lessons learned about risk management in adventure sports and the importance of community support during a crisis. His story serves as a cautionary tale for fellow adventurers, emphasizing the need for preparedness and awareness in the face of nature’s unpredictability. Buckle up, this one will blow your mind. TakeawaysBen Lewis has been flying since 2009 and is a family doctor in the Yukon, Canada.The CloudSuck incident was part of a larger pattern of accidents in the area.Many pilots, including experienced ones, were caught off guard by sudden weather changes.Ben felt a false sense of security flying under seemingly benign clouds.The day of the incident, Ben aimed to break his personal distance record.Communication with fellow pilots was limited during the flight.Ben experienced extreme turbulence and loss of control in the clouds.He passed out at high altitude due to negative G-forces.The injuries sustained were a result of both the flight and the landing.Ben’s experience highlights the importance of weather awareness and decision-making in paragliding. Ben was incredibly lucky to survive the fall.His injuries included a broken neck and eye damage.Self-rescue in the Himalayas is challenging and risky.Community support played a crucial role in his recovery.He plans to continue flying despite the incident.The experience taught him valuable lessons about risk management.He felt a deep sense of responsibility towards his family.Ben’s vision issues were a significant concern post-accident.He acknowledges the importance of proper equipment for safety.Social media response was largely supportive and positive.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the CloudSuck Incident06:04 The Intimidation of Mountain Flying11:46 The Day of the Incident: Setting the Scene18:01 The Moment of Panic and Loss of Control23:54 Reflections on the Experience29:38 Surviving the Fall: A Paraglider’s Tale36:54 Self-Rescue in the Himalayas46:00 Lessons Learned: A Cautionary Experience