BEIRUT, Lebanon — A 16-year-old Australian boy has died in a tragic paragliding accident in Lebanon, prompting a police search for the instructor involved in the flight.
Hussein Mearbany, from western Sydney, was paragliding over Sahel Aalma, just north of Beirut, on May 10 when he reportedly fell more than 300 meters to his death. Local authorities suspect his harness was not properly secured.
The teenager was two weeks into a holiday with his mother and siblings when the accident occurred. His cousin told 7NEWS.com.au that a funeral was held shortly after the incident and the family chose to bury him in Lebanon. Hussein’s father traveled from Sydney upon hearing the news. The family is expected to return to Australia on May 21.
“The day they leave Lebanon is going to be the hardest day of their life,” the cousin said.
Video obtained by 7NEWS.com.au shows Hussein’s final moments, in which he appears strapped to the instructor as they take off from a cliff. Other footage shared online reportedly shows him falling through the air soon after launch.
Authorities in Lebanon have arrested the owner of the paragliding company, which operates out of nearby Jounieh. The paragliding instructor involved in the flight is believed to have gone into hiding following the fatal incident, and a manhunt is currently underway.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the Mearbany family.
“We send our deepest condolences to their family at this difficult time,” DFAT said in a statement. “Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”
In Sydney, members of the Islamic community gathered in the suburb of Guildford to offer prayers and support to Hussein’s family.
A tribute shared online reflected on the tragedy:
“He went to Lebanon for a holiday — full of dreams, excitement, and the energy of youth. Like many young men, he wanted to feel the adrenaline of flying… What was meant to be a moment of thrill became his final moment.”
The post concluded with a somber reminder:
“May Allah grant his family patience and reunite them with him in the highest levels of Jannah. And as for us — still breathing, still planning, still distracted — take this as a wake-up call. The only promise in life is death.”