Parachute accident leaves Austrian man dangling from 820ft high cliff in Thailand

Rescue workers were in a race against time on Monday (Jan 13) to save an Austrian parachutist stuck on a cliff.

Johannes Grasser, 28, leapt from from the peak of Khao Ok Thalu, a mountain in Phatthalung, southern Thailand, with his girlfriend this morning.

But his parachute snagged on the sharp cliff edge and he was left dangling precariously 820ft from the ground.

Footage filmed today shows him stranded on the steep cliff face, tangled in ropes and his parachute, while his girlfriend stands at the top, shouting encouragement to his partner and relaying the information to rescuers on the ground.

Johannes was still stranded at 2pm local time.

Police, paramedics and rescue workers are currently at the scene trying to help Johannes, from the city of Feldbach, while his partner communicates with a translator.

She said said that Johannes's leg was injured in the collision and suffered wounds.

A tourist police officer, who is relaying the information from Johannes girlfriend to those on the ground, said ''he will not be able to hang on for too long''.

She said: "He cannot hold on like that for too long, the rescue team are finding a way to help him.

Did he hurt his leg?

People are asking me if the blood has stopped bleeding.'' Residents said that they heard someone calling for help from the south side of the mountain and saw the man hanging on the cliff, tangled in ropes and canvas.

One local who called the rescue team said: "There was a man screaming for help from the hill peak around late morning.

After I found him I called the rescue workers to help him as soon as possible." Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene while planning for the safest way to rescue the parachutist.

If they cannot reach him, they will bring in a helicopter.

The Provincial Governor of Phatthalung Kukiat Wongkraphan rushed to the scene to arrange the rescue plan with the team.

He said: "We have to help him as soon as possible before he will be drained of his strength." Johannes Grasser, one person from a team of nine Austrian parachutists, has been in Phatthalung for the last few days where they were performing a sky diving show at a national Children's Day celebration, which took place on Saturday (Jan 11).

He was parachuting for leisure when the crash happened.