Chinese paraglider survives accidental flight at 28,208 feet without oxygen

Chinese paraglider, Peng Yujiang, is fortunate to be back on the ground after a powerful updraft suddenly lifted him into the upper atmosphere above the Qilian Mountains in China’s Gansu Province.

Peng was reportedly carried to an altitude of 8,598 meters, or about 28,208 feet, without oxygen. Amateur video shared by Chinese state media showed him drifting through the clouds with ice covering his face and clothing.

He explained that he had just purchased a second-hand paragliding harness and was testing it by conducting ground parachute shaking when strong winds unexpectedly lifted him into the air. Despite efforts to land quickly, he was unable to descend.

Peng found himself trapped inside thick cumulonimbus clouds. “It was terrifying — everything around me was white. Without the compass, I wouldn’t have known which direction I was heading. I thought I was flying straight, but in reality, I was spinning. Eventually, I managed to fly out toward the northeast,” he said.

State media reported that Peng may have briefly lost consciousness during the flight. He expressed disbelief upon learning he had reached such a high altitude.

Peng has been paragliding for over four years and holds a B-level certification, which requires at least 20 days of flight experience. Despite numb and nearly frozen hands, he was able to control his paraglider using a compass and radio communication with his teammates.

“As soon as I came out of the clouds, I was very excited because I had survived. The scariest moment was when I tried to pull out of the spiral and failed, and when the canopy nosedived. It’s still frightening to think about,” he said.

“For now, I definitely won’t fly for a while,” Peng added.