A California Santa flying a glider got entangled in power lines

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Future Kris Kringle was rescued safely the Sunday before Christmas after spending an hour above ground in Rio Linda, a town in Sacramento County, California.

His accident, no matter how festive, shows why citizens may be enjoying the more magical elements of Christmas for real cheerful old man in red.

Santa told officials he was in the area to deliver candy canes to local children, County Fire Capt. Christopher Vestal.

Without Santa’s reindeer, the man delivered his gifts in a recreational plane delivered by the fire department described as one “hyperlight.” It uses a small motor and “blower” to propel it, while a large parachute catches the wind and keeps it in the air, Vestal said.

The department is still unsure how Santa got to where he got – recreational planes like him don’t need to report their flight patterns, Vestal said.

But at one point during his flight, his “sled” and his large parachute got caught in the lines.

When California Highway Patrol from North Sacramento and the firefighters arrived, the craft hung on one side of the power lines.

Despite the glider’s precarious position, Santa was in no danger of falling on the sidewalk, Vestal said, because he was wearing a seat belt.

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“Without a doubt the restrictions prevented him and probably saved not only Santa’s life, but also Christmas,” he said.

A local utility company “de-energized” the power lines before the fire brigade made their rescue.

With Metro Fire employees dangling from a large ladder, Santa was safely lowered to the ground within an hour of the team’s arrival.

Claus was not injured at any point in the entanglement or rescue, Vestal said.

While the fire department regularly responds to small plane incidents at nearby airports, Vestal said this was the first Santa rescue.

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