A Paraglider Got Caught in a 'Cloud Suck' and Nearly Froze to Death Miles Above the Earth: Watch the Terrifying Viral Footage
Now-viral footage of the incident shows Peng Yujiang, 55, flying through the air while coated in frost and ice
Peng, who was somehow largely unharmed, survived temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees, as well as low levels of oxygenA paraglider in China survived getting swept 27,800 feet above the earth — a height typically reserved for commercial airliners.
Peng Yujiang, 55, was testing new paragliding equipment on the ground in the northern province of Gansu on Saturday, May 24 when a rare updraft known as a "cloud suck" pulled him into a cloud formation, the BBC and NBC News reported.
The entire experience can be seen in now-viral footage as he had a camera mounted on his glider at the time.
The video, which was originally uploaded to Douyin, China's version of TikTok, shows Yujiang flying through the air at an extremely high altitude, his face and body coated in ice due to the extremely low temperatures.
"It was terrifying … Everything was white,' Yujiang, who has been paragliding for four and a half years, told the China Media Group, per the BBC.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
'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,' he continued.
He added, "I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud.'
Temperatures at such altitudes can reach as low as minus 40 degrees, and Yujiang told the outlet that he may have lost consciousness during the ordeal due to a lack of oxygen.
While speaking to state-run broadcaster CCTV News, Yujiang shared that he hadn't even planned to paraglide that day, and was simply testing the fit of the new equipment, per BBC.
Yujiang also shared that his hands and face still felt numb from the incident, and noted that while his body was initially quite swollen, it had 'gone down a lot,' NBC News reported.
'My fear hasn't completely faded. I still feel uneasy when I think about it now,' he told CCTV News, before adding that he has plans to 'take a break' from flying for now.
Yujiang almost broke the world record for the highest paragliding flight, which was set in 2007 during another accidental and near-fatal incident, when Ewa Wiśnierska, a German paraglider, was sucked into a tornado-like thunderstorm in Australia. Wiśnierska, who survived the incident mostly unharmed, drifted about six miles above the Earth for approximately 45 minutes.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai
Thousands of local tourists poured into China's first-ever Legoland as it opened its gates in Shanghai on Saturday, the latest theme park hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. "I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home... so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity," said Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. "Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad," said Shi, adding his family now travels to theme parks around China "many times a year". Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000-square-metre (78.5-acre) compound in scorching temperatures. Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. A new "Spider-Man" attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now "in the phase of creative design". Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. "The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions," said Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 percent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. "The labour market is turning more flexible," said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research. "More people have leisure time to travel around." tjx/jfx Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Strange Reason Flights to This Popular Country Are Being Canceled
Japan's red-hot tourism boom just hit an unexpected turbulence thanks to an old comic book. Reuters reported that airlines are suspending flights, tours are being slashed in half, and travelers across Asia are rethinking their vacations, all because of a viral rumor predicting a catastrophic earthquake on July 5, 2025. The prediction didn't come from scientists. It came from the pages of a manga titled The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki, first published in 1999. The comic gained a second life online after readers connected its reference to a 2011 disaster with recent claims that a new catastrophe would strike this summer. Panic quickly spread through social media, especially in Hong Kong, prompting widespread concern and real-world fallout. Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines announced this week it would suspend service to Tokushima, Japan, citing weak demand. The airline isn't alone. Tour agencies like EGL Tours reported that bookings to Japan were cut in half, despite offering steep discounts and earthquake insurance to offset fears. 'The rumors have had a significant impact,' said Steve Huen, executive director at EGL Tours. Japan had recorded an all-time monthly high of 3.9 million international visitors in April. But in May, arrivals from Hong Kong dropped 11% compared to the previous year. Even individual travelers are second-guessing their plans. One visitor from Hong Kong told Reuters, 'If possible, I might delay my trip and go after September.' Japan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common, but experts say there's no scientific basis for the manga's claims. 'None of the predictions I've experienced in my scientific career have come close at all,' said University of Tokyo seismologist Robert Geller. Even the manga's author issued a statement saying she is not a prophet. Still, the damage has been done. While many travelers like Seattle's Serena Peng continue their trips, others are holding back. Airlines and tour operators are watching closely to see whether fear fades or lingers long enough to reshape Japan's tourism Reason Flights to This Popular Country Are Being Canceled first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025
Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Associated Press
Death toll rises to 16 in Pakistan building collapse as rescuers search for survivors
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — The death toll from a collapsed multistory residential building in southern Pakistan rose to 16 as search operations to find survivors continued for the second day. Rescuers pulled 10 more bodies from the rubble during an overnight operation, officials said Saturday. The government-run Civil Hospital said in a statement it had received the 16 bodies, adding several of the injured had been hospitalized. Rescue workers are using heavy machinery to search for at least eight more survivors believed to be trapped under the debris, according to local media and emergency officials. Residents said the building was located on a narrow street, hampering efforts to bring in additional heavy equipment. Television footage showed rescuers removing debris as relatives of those still trapped cried and prayed for the safety of their loved ones. Building collapses are common in Pakistan, where construction standards are often poorly enforced. Many structures are built with substandard materials, and safety regulations are frequently ignored to cut costs. In June 2020, an apartment building collapsed in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, killing 22 people.
