This is the horrifying moment a aerobatic hand glider routine almost went disastrously wrong.

Experienced pilot Jon Gjerde was flying as part of the Ekstremsportveko extreme sports week held every year in Vossevangen, Norway on 28th June this year when he got into difficulties.

During a second loop, the wing of his hand glider appears to buckle and snap, sending him into a chaotic free fall to the ground below.

Moments before what would surely have been a disastrous landing, Gjerde manages to deploy his emergency parachute, doubtlessly saving him from severe injury, or worse. Even so, the G-forces exhorted upon Job during the spin were enough to make him pass out, and even temporarily blind him.

We’re happy to report, though, following Jon’s own accounts of the incident on his Facebook page, he’s now recovering well.

Warning: Some readers may find the following videos disturbing