A Chinese paraglider, Peng Yujiang, survived a terrifying ordeal after being unexpectedly lifted to 8,500 meters above the Qilian mountains, caught in a "cloud suck" updraft, as officials investigate the unauthorized flight.**
Chinese Paraglider Remarkably Rescued After Surprise Ascent into the Clouds**
Chinese Paraglider Remarkably Rescued After Surprise Ascent into the Clouds**
Peng Yujiang's unexpected journey to 8,500 meters highlights the dangers of extreme sports amid nature's unyielding forces.**
A Chinese paraglider has had a hair-raising brush with death after being accidentally launched to an altitude of 8,500 meters (27,800 feet) above the Qilian mountains in north-western China. Peng Yujiang, a 55-year-old paraglider, was initially testing new equipment at a more controlled height of 3,000 meters when he suddenly encountered a rare and powerful air current known as "cloud suck," which thrust him nearly 5,000 meters higher into a dense cloud layer.
Footage from the incident, captured by a camera fixed on Mr. Peng's glider, has since gone viral on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok, showing him struggling with his controls while being engulfed in ice crystals, making visibility nearly impossible. "It was terrifying... Everything was white. I couldn't see any direction. Without the compass, I wouldn't have known which way I was going. I thought I was flying straight, but in reality, I was spinning," he recounted to China Media Group.
The harrowing experience put Mr. Peng's life in jeopardy as oxygen levels deplete significantly at such heights, which are just shy of the peak of Mount Everest at 8,849 meters. The temperatures at that elevation can plummet to a staggering -40°C, adding to the perilous situation. "I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud," he shared.
With four-and-a-half years of paragliding experience, Mr. Peng reflected on the frightening aspects of regaining control during the spiraling descent, stating that he might have blacked out momentarily. Chinese authorities are now looking into the incident, leading to Mr. Peng's suspension from paragliding for six months due to the unauthorized nature of the flight.
It was reported that Mr. Peng had no intent to fly that day, aiming only to test the fit and comfort of his parachute while on the ground. However, unexpected strong winds lifted him into the air, culminating in his ascent through increasingly intense updrafts into the clouds.
