By Jeremy Maready
The Ledger
DAVENPORT, Fla. — A volunteer firefighter from Vermont died Sunday after a hang-gliding accident near Davenport.
Anthony Ameo, 59, of Sheffield, Vt. was trying to land when he struck a pine tree and fell nearly 25 feet, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and officials at Wallaby Ranch, a facility that caters to hang-gliders.
Ameo was flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he died during surgery.
A friend said Ameo began hang-gliding about three years ago and was practicing for his advanced intermediate rating. He had passed a written test and was practicing for his flying test, which would measure his ability to set up a proper approach and flare the glider at the appropriate time to land on his feet.
“The transition (from flaring the glider to landing) takes a lot of eye-to-hand coordination,” said Eugene Pettinato, Ameo’s friend and flying partner. “That was his weakest area, I think.”
Pettinato, who was flying at the time, thinks his friend misjudged his height and distance, which caused him to strike the tree.
From the ground, Wallaby Ranch instructor, Malcolm Jones watched the incident unfold.
“We were watching him,” Jones said. “He had an easy landing. He just screwed up and cut it too quick.”
The glider struck the top of a pine tree, which Jones estimated was about 25 feet tall. From there, Ameo and the glider dropped to the ground at the edge of the large cleared landing field.
Jones and others called 911.
When they came upon Ameo, he was conscious and took off his safety helmet.
He tried to move, but his leg appeared to be broken, Jones said. “He said, ‘I don’t feel anything. I’m not in pain. I’m not hurting.’ I guess it was a shock thing.”
Pettinato remembered his friend as a caring person who loved to help people.
The two, both from Vermont, met while hang-gliding in Orlando nearly two years ago.
This year, Ameo volunteered to help Pettinato remodel his Ormond Beach vacation home and planned a three-week stay that would include hang-gliding trips.
“He was a very generous person,” Pettinato said. “He spent most of his life helping other people.”
Ameo had worked as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for about 30 years.
Ameo is survived by his wife, Patricia. The two had been married for about 36 years.
Funeral arrangements are not finalized, Pettinato said.
Jones said Wallaby Ranch is a facility where hang-gliders practice their hobby.
“We’ve been here for many, many years and this is the first thing like this to happen,’' Jones said. “We’re just in shock. We can’t believe it happened.”
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