Bermuda after a horrific paragliding accident in South Africa.

The brother of UBP St. George's South MP Rick Spurling was sent spinning into the face of Table Mountain after his paragliding wings collapsed.

He broke a femur and hip, smashed both heels, and suffered back fractures.

Bleeding heavily in his flying harness, the 40-year-old was hauled to the mountain top and tended to on the spot by his friend, Dr. Jason Brockwell, an orthopaedic surgeon.

After undergoing two operations in a South African hospital -- and spending a while under intensive care -- he was flown to Bermuda to be with family and friends.

He now faces another four weeks in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, followed by two months rehabilitation.

Mr. Spurling, UBP chairman from 1987 to 1990, is a partner with law firm Appleby, Spurling and Kempe, and has spent the last four years at its Hong Kong offices.

A paragliding enthusiast for the last two-and-a-half years, he went to South Africa on holiday with Dr. Brockwell.

Yesterday, speaking from his hospital bed, he told The Royal Gazette of the accident which occurred near Cape Town 16 days ago and could put paid to his flying career.

While blaming the wing collapse on turbulence, he also accepts he was partly at fault.

With hindsight, he should have controlled his impatience and waited for the winds to subside, he said.

"I also did not take the corrective action in time and ended up going into a spin, and hitting the mountain face feet first.'' Mr. Spurling reckoned he was travelling between 50 and 60 k.p.h. when he hit the rocky face after falling about 50 feet.

"I was dazed and winded although I never lost consciousness. I couldn't say I was in a lot of pain, but I was very uncomfortable and knew that I had broken some bones.'' As he was wearing a helmet, he did not suffer head injuries.

Mr. Spurling said he was also fortunate to have been paragliding with his friend, Dr. Brockwell.

"He happens to be an orthopaedic surgeon, and was able to put me in the stretcher.'' In South Africa, Mr. Spurling had two bolts inserted in his hip, a steel rod placed in his left leg, and wires attached to his heels.

"I'm going to have to learn to walk again, and I could be in hospital another four weeks. I will need a lot of physiotherapy and perseverance during the rehabilitation.'' Mr. Spurling, a licensed fixed wing pilot, has paraglided in various parts of the world, including France, Borneo, and Switzerland.

He has notched up 220 launches during 70 hours of flying time.

"I'm not certain at this stage whether I will go paragliding again,'' he said. "I've been told it will be at least six months before I will be able to fly, but of course I will have to overcome the fear of doing it again.'' ON THE MEND -- Former United Bermuda Party chairman Mr. Michael Spurling gives a thumbs-up sign yesterday. He broke five bones in a paragliding accident.