Paraglider accidentally soars more than 5 miles high

A 55-year-old paraglider testing some equipment in China got caught in a strong updraft that sent him up to an altitude of more than 28,200 feet above sea level, nearly as high as Mount Everest and airliner flight paths. “I felt the lack of oxygen. My hands were frozen outside,” said Peng Yujiang, whose ordeal was captured by cameras attached to his equipment. After he landed safely, local sporting officials grounded Peng for six months.

Class discussion: Other paragliders have been caught in what they call “cloud suck” and soared to extreme altitudes, and some have died. What attracts people to potentially dangerous sports like paragliding, skydiving, or mountain climbing? Have you engaged in any risky sports? If so, why? Do you know anyone who is attracted to extreme sports? Are participating in exciting activities ever worth the threat of serious injury or death?