Paraglider Killed, One Survivor

A German Paraglider said Friday she didn't believe she would survive when she was lifted higher than Mt. Everast by the thunderstorm that killed a Chinese paraglider in the Eastern Australia Paragliding Championships World Cup in 2005. Eva Wisnierska, 35 was lifted 32,612 feet above sea level by a storm Wednesday near Manila in New South Wales State while preparing for the 10th FAI World Paragliding Championships next week, event organizer Godfrey Wenness said.

A 42-year-old Chinese paraglider. He Znongpin was killed by the same weather system, Wenness said probably apparently from a lack of oxygen and extreme cold. his body was found Thursday 47 miles from his launch site. A post modern examination will be carried out Monday. police said. Wenness said Wisnierska soared from 2500 feet to her maximum height in about 15 minutes.

She lost consciousness for more than 30 minutes while her paraglider flew on uncontrolled, sinking and lifting several times. She regained consciousness at 1640 feet and landed safely, suffering frost bite on her face and with ice in her light weight flying suit. She described how she attempted to spiral against its power lift. She said she could hear lightening around her and decided her chances of survival were " almost zero." She radioed her team leader at 13,123 feet. I can't do anything," she said nervously.

Wenness praised her ability to regain her senses and strength to land. "It's like winning th lotto 10 times in a row, her odds of survival were that long." She only spent 1 hour in the hospital for observation, and she hopes to compete in the Biennial Championships that begin in February.

Sources USA Today