Paraglider survives storm that sucked her up to 32,000 feet
A German paragliding champion has survived being
sucked into a storm that pulled her higher than Mount Everest.
A German paragliding champion has survived being
sucked into a storm that pulled her higher than Mount Everest.
Ewa Wisnierska, 35, who lost consciousness as she soared skywards, was covered
in ice and battled hailstones the size of
oranges.
She was pulled 9,940m (32,612 feet) above sea level in the storm near Tamworth, in New South Wales, paragliding officials said. A 42-year-old Chinese man, He Zhongpin, was killed in the tornado-like storm.
They - along with 200 others - were preparing for a world paragliding championship in the town of Manilla, Australia, when the thunderstorm hit.
Championship organiser Godfrey Wenness said it was remarkable that Ms Wisnierska had survived. “There’s no oxygen,” Mr Wenness said. “She could have suffered brain damage but she came to again at a height of 6,900m with ice all over her body and slowly descended herself.”
Ms Wisnierska finally managed to land - 60km (40 miles) from where she took off.
Not a sport I feel like taking up. But, Ms. Wisnierska is more than brave. Says she’s ready to compete for the title, again, next week.
She was pulled 9,940m (32,612 feet) above sea level in the storm near Tamworth, in New South Wales, paragliding officials said. A 42-year-old Chinese man, He Zhongpin, was killed in the tornado-like storm.
They - along with 200 others - were preparing for a world paragliding championship in the town of Manilla, Australia, when the thunderstorm hit.
Championship organiser Godfrey Wenness said it was remarkable that Ms Wisnierska had survived. “There’s no oxygen,” Mr Wenness said. “She could have suffered brain damage but she came to again at a height of 6,900m with ice all over her body and slowly descended herself.”
Ms Wisnierska finally managed to land - 60km (40 miles) from where she took off.
Not a sport I feel like taking up. But, Ms. Wisnierska is more than brave. Says she’s ready to compete for the title, again, next week.
Posted: Fri - February 16, 2007 at 06:02 PM