Paragliding Victim Was Malaysian Man, 48, from Colorado, County Says

Originally published 5:37 p.m June 26.

A man was killed while paragliding south of Seacoast Drive Wednesday afternoon, according to Lt. Marco Garmo with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Imperial Beach substation.

Sheriff's deputies, Imperial Beach Fire Department and ambulances responded around 4:09 p.m.

Henry Ho, a 48-year-old man from Malaysia who lives in Windsor, CO was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:20 p.m., according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. 

"From what witnesses said it looks like he was possibly receiving a paragliding lesson and a gust of wind took him and slammed him into the rocks," Garmo said.

The man may have been wearing a motor-powered fan as well.

California Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services wardens also responded to the incident.

Dell ”Superdell” Schanze, who has taught lessons on the Imperial Beach shoreline in the past, was on the scene, Garmo said. Schanze has reportedly been arrested or charged with crimes multiple times for base jumping and related activity in Oregon and Utah.

Schanze was reached by phone Thursday afternoon but declined to comment.

The City of Imperial Beach passed an ordinance in 2012 particularly to address activity by Schanze after he jumped off buildings near Pier South.