Russian tourist rescued from pine tree after paragliding accident in Batu

A Russian tourist, Aleksandr Popov, 35, was successfully rescued after becoming stuck in a pine tree during a paragliding activity in Gunungsari Village, Bumiaji District, Batu, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

A joint rescue team, including the SAR Class A Surabaya, BPBD Kota Batu, local paragliding operators, and residents, conducted the operation. Due to the high altitude and difficult terrain in a forested area with minimal lighting, rescuers utilized vertical rescue equipment and a “lowering” method. This involved using a rope rigging system to gradually descend the tourist from the tree.

The evacuation lasted approximately two hours, concluding around 10:00 PM. Medical examinations conducted at the scene confirmed that Popov was unharmed and sustained no physical injuries.