Overview

• On May 24, Liu Ge was caught in a rare cloud-vortex phenomenon over the Qilian Mountains and lifted to more than 28,000ft in subzero conditions without an oxygen mask.
• Despite suffering extensive frostbite and oxygen deficiency, he stayed conscious, maintained radio contact and guided his parachute to a safe landing.
• Footage captured by Liu during the ordeal has gone viral on social media, drawing global attention to the dangers of high-altitude paragliding.
• Chinese aviation sports regulators have opened an investigation, alleging he failed to file the required flight plan and flew beyond the 16,405ft safety ceiling.
• Paragliding expert Ou called Liu’s survival miraculous, saying few pilots endure such extreme cold and low oxygen levels without specialized gear.