Friends of Ukrainian pilot Volodymyr Perevalov are appealing to the community to help raise funds following an accident in North Macedonia.
The competition pilot and designer for NearBirds was discovered beside a road near Treskavec with multiple leg fractures and a broken pelvis two weeks ago on 13 August.
Although he recalls coming in to land, he has no memory of the accident and it is suspected that he was hit by a vehicle.
Emergency surgery was successful in repairing a compromised artery and stabilising his condition but unfortunately his insurance coverage is now exhausted.
His friends are now urgently trying to raise €67,400 needed to pay for the next five rounds of surgeries for his broken pelvis and left leg. Without the surgery to his pelvis he is unable to travel and at risk of further arterial damage.
“We are reaching out to you for support in this crucial time,” the email circular says. “Your generosity can help save Volodymyr’s life and aid his recovery journey. Every contribution makes a difference.”
Anyone able to make a donation, no matter how small, can do so via Paypal to near_birds@ukr.net or via this GoFundMe page.
Volodymyr is a well known Ukrainian competition pilot and harness designer at NearBirds. He was profiled in Cross Country 235. In the interview, he tells how he first experimented with designing wings out of nylon clothing and sailing cord in his 20s. He also shares the nightmare of living under attack in Kyiv and trying to keep the business going after the factory was hit by the Russians.
This isn’t the first time he’s had a serious accident. He broke his back in Venezuela some years ago but on that occasion, after his insurance ran out, he was smuggled out of the country after soliciting the help of local narco bosses and an arms dealer.
An update from Volodymyr’s friends on 29 August said they were hoping to move him to a hospital in Bulgaria for further surgery. They added: “Thank you to the pilots and paragliding community for your help and support.”
