Paraglider sucked into cloud vortex, nearly freezes to death miles above Earth

Bone-chilling viral video shows the moment a Chinese paraglider almost froze to death after he said he was sucked into the clouds — leaving him stranded roughly 5 miles off the ground and covered head-to-toe in ice.The paraglider, identified in local reports as Liu Ge, claims the icy ordeal unfolded after he set off on the flight over the Qilian Mountains in northern China on Saturday, the Global Times reported.He alleges 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 a sub-zero “cloud suction.”A wild clip going viral on social media shows the daredevil then trying to steer his glider after emerging from the cloud system — with his face completely exposed to the freezing temps.“I felt oxygen deficiency and my hands were freezing,” Liu reportedly said in the aftermath.

“But I kept communicating via the intercom.”Liu said temperatures can drop to roughly -40 degrees Celsius at altitudes of over 28,000 feet and oxygen levels plunge to dangerously low levels.Still, the paraglider said he miraculously remained conscious the entire time and eventually was able to stick a safe landing.He suffered extensive frostbite during the ordeal and is now recovering in a hospital, reports said.Authorities have since launched an investigation after it emerged air traffic authorities hadn’t approved his flight.Under Chinese regulations, paragliding flights are banned above 16,405 feet.

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