Chinese paraglider recounts survival at 8,598 meters

A 55-year-old Chinese paraglider shared his extraordinary survival story with China Media Group (CMG) on Tuesday after being unexpectedly lifted by a powerful updraft into the upper atmosphere during a flight over the Qilian Mountains – reaching an altitude of 8,598 meters without oxygen, and narrowly escaping death.

Peng, a certified B-level paraglider, was conducting a routine equipment test on May 24 at a training site about 3,000 meters above sea level in northwest China's Gansu Province. What started as a calm session quickly turned dangerous when a sudden surge of wind pulled him into rapidly forming cumulonimbus clouds. Despite trying to descend, he became trapped in the cloud system.

"I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud," the man recalled in an interview with CMG.

Experts say Peng encountered a rare and dangerous phenomenon known as "cloud suck" – a condition where strong convective updrafts carry paragliders to extreme altitudes. Professor Zhi Xiefei of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology explained that inside such clouds, temperatures can plummet to negative 40 degrees Celsius and oxygen levels are severely low.

Without an oxygen mask and with his face exposed, Peng endured freezing conditions as ice crystals formed on his face, body and equipment. His gloves were not fully zipped, leaving his hands numb and nearly frozen. Still, he managed to control his paraglider using his compass and radio communication with teammates.

"It was terrifying," Peng said. "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."

Eventually, Peng emerged from the cloud, radioed his team – "I'm finally out!" – and managed to land safely.

Looking back at his flight data, Peng was shocked to learn he had reached 8,598 meters – far higher than he had realized mid-air. He suspects he may have briefly lost consciousness during descent.

Peng has been paragliding for four and a half years and holds a B-level license – China's second tier in a five-level system, requiring at least 20 days of flight experience and a minimum of 40 individual flights.

Now recovering in stable condition, Peng says the most frightening part of the ordeal wasn't reaching such a high altitude, but the repeated failures to regain control while spiraling blindly inside the cloud.

His story serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in high-altitude paragliding. Experts urge enthusiasts to avoid entering storm clouds and to prepare carefully for changes in weather, especially in mountainous regions.

(Cover: Peng during his flight, May 24, 2025. /CMG)