Paraglider missing for weeks in Nevada desert found dead under a tree, police say
The search for a paraglider who went missing nearly a month ago while flying in Nevada has come to a close.
James Johnston, a veteran paraglider originally from New Zealand, was found dead on Sept. 18, nearly a month after his late August disappearance, according to the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Johnston,” the post said.
Johnston, who was also a photographer and journalist, had 30 years of experience paragliding and was well-known in the community, the Reno Gazette Journal reported.
He was flying when he disappeared, media outlets reported. He was 250 miles to the east of Reno when the signal from his GPS stopped.
After initial search efforts halted Aug. 29 with no sign of Johnston, friends of the paraglider pilot started a Gofundme page to finance an independent search, raising nearly $100,000.
They also called for hikers, military and ex-military members, drone operators and helicopter pilots to join in the search.
Then the bad news came.
“Today was the culmination of four weeks of hard work and dedication, we were finally blessed to see where James came to rest,” friend Amanda Jane wrote on the Gofundme page. Johnston was found under a tree, she said.
“After seeing his equipment combined with knowledgeable opinion we are relieved to believe that James died instantly. Although the search to recover him took weeks, it is comforting to know that he did not suffer and was not waiting for us to show to save him.”
Johnston’s cause of death was blunt force trauma from a high elevation fall, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities found the body two days after some “observant” passersby noticed Johnston’s paragliding chute, the release said. Crews soon descended on the new, narrowed search area.
Despite the outcome, Jane wrote she was grateful for the friends and strangers who helped look for him, and the more than 1,000 donations given to the cause.
