Chinese Paraglider Survives Cloud Vortex at 26,400 Ft Altitude

Photo: X/@unlimited_ls

A Chinese paraglider had a very scary experience when he got pulled high into the sky by a strong cloud vortex. He ended up stuck about 26,400 feet above the ground, which is really, really high.

Liu Ge, the paraglider, told what happened. He was flying over the Qilian Shan mountains in northern China on Saturday. Right after he jumped off a mountain that was about 9,850 feet above sea level, a powerful force called "cloud suction" pulled him up into the sky. The temperature got very cold — around minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Liu said it was hard to breathe because there was not enough oxygen at that height. His hands were freezing, and his face and clothes got covered with ice.

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Liu said he did not have an oxygen mask with him, which made things even harder. He held on tightly to his harness as he was lifted higher and higher. Because of the freezing cold, he got very bad frostbite on his skin. Even though it was a dangerous situation, Liu said he stayed awake the whole time and talked on the radio to ask for help. Luckily, he was able to land safely in the end.

An experienced paraglider named Ou explained that very few people can survive flying so high. He said that when people paraglide around 6,500 feet, they usually wear cold-weather clothes to protect themselves. But at 28,000 feet, it becomes extremely cold and the air is thin, which makes it very difficult to breathe.

The authorities are now investigating this incident because Liu did not get permission from air traffic control before flying. In China, even if a person has a license to paraglide, they must get approval from the air traffic control before flying in the airspace. Also, Chinese rules say paragliders are not allowed to fly higher than 16,405 feet.

This dangerous event shows how important it is to follow safety rules and prepare properly before paragliding, especially in high places.