According to the New York Post, the paraglider, identified as Liu Ge, claims that the incident unfolded after he set off on the flight over the Qilian Mountains in northern China on Saturday, May 24th. He alleges that he lost control of the glider soon after he jumped from a mountain spot roughly 9,850 feet above sea level and was quickly dragged into sub-zero “cloud suction.”
The video circulating social media shows Ge then trying to steer his glider after emerging from the cloud system. He face was completely exposed to the freezing temps. In the aftermath, he said, “I felt oxygen deficiency and my hands were freezing. But I kept communicating via the intercom.”
He said that temperatures can drop to roughly -40 degrees Celsius at altitudes of over 28,000 feet and oxygen levels plunge to dangerously low levels. Still, he said he miraculously remained conscious the entire time and eventually was able to stick a safe landing. He did, however, suffer extensive frostbite during the ordeal and is now recovering in a hospital.
According to the DailyMail.com, an experienced paraglider, surnamed Ou, told local media that very few people could have survived being dragged into such high altitudes. He said, “This is truly miraculous. His mental resilience was extraordinary.” Ou added that paragliders will typically come prepared for such flights with cold weather gear as it would already be extremely cold at the take-off altitude.
Authorities have since launched an investigation after it emerged that air traffic authorities did not approve Ge’s flight. Under Chinese regulations, paragliding flights are banned above 16,405 feet. Penalties for those found in breach of the rules range from warnings and fines to criminal charges.
In a separate incident, a paragliding accident occurred on Monday, May 26th in Vacaville, California. KRON reported that the subject in the incident fell around 50 feet “down the rocks.” Fire officials with the Vacaville Fire Department said they received a call about the accident at 12:15 p.m. and dispatched an ambulance.
The accident occurred in a remote area of Blue Ridge Road near Mount Vaca, which is one of the highest peaks in Solano County. According to ABC10, the paraglider was airlifted from the rugged slopes. The crash was deep within the mountain’s dense brush and steep hillsides, conditions that made reaching the injured man difficult. Officials said the man may have suffered a broken hip and fractured ribs. Authorities said that the exact cause of the crash remains unclear.
