A seasoned paraglider faced a life-threatening situation when a sudden updraft lifted him to the edge of the atmosphere unexpectedly.
**Paraglider's Harrowing Escape from 8,500m in China's Skies**
**Paraglider's Harrowing Escape from 8,500m in China's Skies**
A Chinese paraglider's unexpected rise to extreme altitudes has garnered widespread attention after a dangerous mishap during a routine equipment check.
In an astonishing incident, a 55-year-oldChinese paraglider, Peng Yujiang, has found himself at the center of a wild adventure, soaring to an altitude of 8,500 meters (27,800 feet) above north-west China. Initially only testing new parachute equipment at a modest height of 3,000 meters over the Qilian mountains, he was unexpectedly caught in a powerful updraft, known colloquially as "cloud suck."
Video footage capturing the incident has captivated audiences after its release on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. In the footage, viewed by millions, Peng can be seen gripping the glider's controls tightly, his face encrusted with ice crystals and visibility severely compromised. “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,” he recounted in an interview with China Media Group.
At such a staggering altitude, the air is thin, making such an ascent perilous. The oxygen levels are dangerously low, and temperatures can plunge to a bone-chilling -40°C. “I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud,” he explained, illustrating the chaos of his experience.
Having paraglided for four and a half years, Peng described an alarming moment of unconsciousness during his descent, when the challenge of regaining control of his spiraling glider became particularly dire.
Following the incident, Chinese authorities have launched an investigation and have temporarily suspended Mr. Peng for six months due to the unauthorized nature of his flight, as reports from the state-run Global Times disclosed that he did not plan to take off that day. The strong winds unexpectedly lifted him from the ground, leading to this extraordinary and hazardous aerial event.
Video footage capturing the incident has captivated audiences after its release on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. In the footage, viewed by millions, Peng can be seen gripping the glider's controls tightly, his face encrusted with ice crystals and visibility severely compromised. “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,” he recounted in an interview with China Media Group.
At such a staggering altitude, the air is thin, making such an ascent perilous. The oxygen levels are dangerously low, and temperatures can plunge to a bone-chilling -40°C. “I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud,” he explained, illustrating the chaos of his experience.
Having paraglided for four and a half years, Peng described an alarming moment of unconsciousness during his descent, when the challenge of regaining control of his spiraling glider became particularly dire.
Following the incident, Chinese authorities have launched an investigation and have temporarily suspended Mr. Peng for six months due to the unauthorized nature of his flight, as reports from the state-run Global Times disclosed that he did not plan to take off that day. The strong winds unexpectedly lifted him from the ground, leading to this extraordinary and hazardous aerial event.
