A 55-year-old paraglider from the Chinese mainland has recounted his harrowing survival after being swept to an altitude of 8,598 meters – higher than Mount Everest’s base camp – during a routine flight in northwest China’s Gansu Province. The incident, described by experts as a rare 'cloud suck' phenomenon, highlights the unpredictable risks of high-altitude sports.
Mr. Peng, a certified B-level paraglider, was testing equipment on May 24 near the Qilian Mountains when sudden updrafts pulled him into a cumulonimbus cloud system. Trapped in freezing temperatures as low as -40°C and with oxygen levels akin to the 'death zone' of Himalayan peaks, Peng battled ice formation and disorientation for over an hour. 'Without my compass, I wouldn’t have known which way was up,' he told China Media Group.
Professor Zhi Xiefei, a meteorology expert at Nanjing University, explained that 'cloud suck' occurs when intense thermal updrafts create vertical wind speeds exceeding 20 meters per second. Peng’s ability to maintain radio contact with his team and interpret flight instruments proved critical to his survival.
The incident has sparked discussions among adventure sports communities about safety protocols in mountainous regions. While Peng’s training enabled him to land safely, experts urge paragliders to avoid storm systems and carry emergency oxygen above 4,000 meters.
