Chinese Paraglider Survives Terrifying 8,500m Cloud Ascent

A Chinese paraglider's near-death adventure after being unexpectedly pulled into the clouds underscores the dangers of extreme sports, leading to a temporary suspension amid investigations.

A paraglider in north-west China had a life-threatening experience when he was unintentionally elevated to an astounding height of 8,500 meters (27,800 feet). Peng Yujiang, 55, was merely testing equipment at a modest 3,000 meters over the Qilian mountains when he suddenly found himself caught in a rare air phenomenon known as "cloud suck." This bizarre updraft propelled him a startling 5,000 meters higher into a cloud layer.

The entire incident was recorded through a camera attached to Mr. Peng's glider and subsequently gained massive attention on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok. Footage revealed Mr. Peng grappling with his glider's controls, his face and body coated in ice crystals. Describing the harrowing experience, he said, "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."

As he ascended, Mr. Peng faced perilous conditions, including dangerously low oxygen levels that are typical at such heights, just shy of Mount Everest's peak at 8,849 meters. The chilling temperature could drop to as low as -40 degrees Celsius. "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, nearly losing consciousness during the ordeal.

After the dangerous descent, he struggled to control the spiraling glider, which added to the anxiety of the situation. In light of the incident, Chinese authorities are now investigating, and reports indicate that Mr. Peng has been suspended from paragliding activities for six months due to the unauthorized nature of the flight. Initially, he had no plans to fly that day, merely wanting to test his parachute’s fit and comfort on the ground when strong winds unexpectedly carried him aloft, eventually leading to the harrowing cloud encounter.