Rapid climb, snap freezing
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Rapid climb, snap freezing
A German paraglider pilot survived a rapid climb to around 30,000 feet after being sucked into a storm cell near Tamworth in northern New South Wales earlier this week.
... "She was covered in ice all over her body and her harness and equipment - it's minus 40 to minus 50 degrees at that altitude," he said.
...
Mr Weness says the paraglider was unconscious for around an hour.
"She had ice secretion all over her body, the wing was covered in ice, internally as well," he said.
"She's got severe frost bite over her face and coming out in blisters."
The woman was taken to hospital but discharged shortly after.
(ABC News)
... "She was covered in ice all over her body and her harness and equipment - it's minus 40 to minus 50 degrees at that altitude," he said.
...
Mr Weness says the paraglider was unconscious for around an hour.
"She had ice secretion all over her body, the wing was covered in ice, internally as well," he said.
"She's got severe frost bite over her face and coming out in blisters."
The woman was taken to hospital but discharged shortly after.
(ABC News)
Bloody hell! How long was she up there for? I would have thought hypoxia might have got her, but obviously if she's been let out of hospital she must be OK.
Amazing she survived. I wonder if the cold slowed her metabolism sufficiently that the lack of oxygen had less of a damaging effect than it would if she'd been at normal temperature? A sort of hibernation state.
I think her residual MSG level probably saved her from going to sleep.......
It didn't seem to save the Chinese man, unfortunately.
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Read that all paragliders were warned of the weather conditions and warned against flying, the German woman and Chinaman were the only two who decided to ignore the warnings....
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Not the first time though. I think it was National Para Champs in QLD many years ago. Two got sucked in (up) and at east one cut-away and pulled reserve when spat out the bottom (with the inherent risk of being sucked in again). Both survived - Yeah baby what a ride.
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Read that all paragliders were warned of the weather conditions and warned against flying, the German woman and Chinaman were the only two who decided to ignore the warnings....
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I wonder if the cold slowed her metabolism sufficiently that the lack of oxygen had less of a damaging effect than it would if she'd been at normal temperature?
Originally Posted by IMHFO
I think it was National Para Champs in QLD many years ago
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