VIDEO: Flyboard Inventor Flew Tens Of Meters Above Ground, Then Crashed Into A Lake. He Ended Up In The Hospital

The French inventor and adventurer Franky Zapata, who crossed the English Channel in 2019 on a glider powered by a jet engine - a flyboard, had an accident on Saturday while presenting a flight of his own invention.

As reported by AFP on Sunday, the accident occurred during a seaplane presentation on Lake Biscarosse in southwestern France. Zapata soared into the air on his flyboard without any problems, but then crashed into the lake from a height of 15 meters. Regional press reported that he was hospitalized in Arcachon. It is not known if he suffered any injuries.

Crash impressionnant de @frankyzapata aujourd’hui au meeting aérien de #biscarrosse Heureusement il est tombé dans l’eau et devrait s’en sortir je l’espère sans trop de soucis. #frankyzapata #biscarrosse #crash pic.twitter.com/SjWbGOp74W

— Alex (@Alex170346741) May 28, 2022

It is not clear what caused the 43-year-old Zapata, a former jet ski champion, to lose control of his equipment.

Zapata reassured his fans on social media that he was fine. He thanked them for their support and the rescue services for their help.

"This reminds us that we are not birds, and if we are not absolutely excellent, then gravity wins," Zapata wrote, adding that mistakes also serve man as a learning tool. He appreciated that he finally had time for a Sunday break. "Back to work on Monday," the Marseille native added.

Flyboard Air built by Zapatom is a device on which the pilot flies while standing up. It has five engines and can fly even if one of them fails. Its maximum speed is 190 kilometers per hour.

In 2019, Zapata stunned the visitors of a military parade on the occasion of the celebrations of French national holiday, when he flew his glider over the Champs-Élysées in the center of Paris.