Steve Barrett in ‘very critical but stable condition’

By Patrick Yost
Editor

    A Madison man has sustained life–threatening injuries after a paraglider he was operating crashed.
    Steve Barrett, 53, is in “very critical but stable condition” at Grady Memorial Hospital following the crash, his brother Jason said.
    According to reports from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Steve Barrett was piloting a paraglider at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16 near Carnesville, Ga., when the machine struck the ground.
    Franklin County officials reported no cause for the crash.
    Jason Barrett said the craft Steve Barrett was piloting was not under power at the time of the crash.
    Steve Barrett was air–lifted to the hospital from the field. The field is located off Bold Springs Road outside Carnesville.
    Jason Barrett said Steve Barrett was “doing well… making progress” on Tuesday.
    Steve Barrett has worked for the Morgan County School System for more than 15 years. He is the assistant director of maintenance for the system.
    He has been a unique fixture around Madison and Morgan County on pleasant afternoons piloting his paraglider over sporting events and festivals.
    Garen Hall, a member of the Bold Springs Volunteer Fire Department, said the chute on Steve Barrett’s paraglider apparently collapsed.
    Hall said he arrived moments after the crash and was told that Steve Barrett had attempted to deploy an emergency chute on the paraglider but was too close to the ground for the emergency chute to be effective.