Flying through the storm – Chris’ Story
Chris was obsessed with flying from a young age. When he was a boy his uncle gave him a model airplane which he would play with and dream of the day when he could fly a real one. That day came when Chris joined the RAF in his late teens.
After retiring from the RAF, Chris found a way to continue feeding his passion for flying in the form of hang gliding. Soon into discovering this new hobby Chris was elected as the founder-secretary of the British Hang Gliding Association, an organisation set up with the aim of introducing new regulations for the sport.
More than anyone, Chris was fully aware of the risks and dangers of hang gliding. He had seen friends killed and read many reports of hang gliding deaths around the country, but he never imagined he would be the one making the front page.
One stormy Thursday afternoon, after a tough day at work, and full of cold, Chris grabbed a hang glider and took to the skies. Despite the voice inside him warning of the unsuitable conditions, Chris decided to take a chance.
That day Chris was paralysed from the chest down when his glider spiralled out of control and came crashing down.
In the time of depression and darkness that followed, Chris started asking questions about life and searching for answers. Here he explains how in the midst of his despair he found, for the first time, true hope and purpose in Jesus Christ.