In brief
Peng Yujiang, a 55-year-old paraglider, found himself at a staggering altitude of 8,500 meters (27,800 feet) above north-west China while testing parachute equipment when an extraordinary updraft unexpectedly carried him into the clouds.
Mr. Peng, who has been paragliding for four-and-a-half years, deemed the experience terrifying as he experienced severe conditions including ice crystals forming on his body and face. Initially at 3,000 meters above sea level in the Qilian mountains, he was lifted by a "cloud suck" phenomenon, which dramatically raised him an additional 5,000 meters through a strong air current.Captured on camera and later shared on Douyin, the incident showed Mr. Peng gripping the controls, battling disorienting conditions. "It was terrifying... Everything was white. I couldn't see any direction," he recounted, stressing that a compass was essential for navigating at that altitude where oxygen levels are dangerously low.Temperatures below -40C were not the only threats Mr. Peng faced; he revealed how he might have briefly lost consciousness as he struggled to regain command of the spiraling glider. Authorities in China are currently examining the circumstances surrounding this extreme incident. Despite Mr. Peng's history with the sport, he has faced a six-month suspension following the unauthorized flight, which occurred during what was initially intended to be a ground test of his new equipment. Strong winds unexpectedly lifted him off the ground, leading to his distressing airborne journey.
