Sydney- A German paraglider who earlier this month survived

being frozen stiff in minus 50-degree temperatures when she was

sucked up to an altitude higher than Mount Everest said Sunday that

she would compete in this week's world championships in Australia.

Ewa Wisnierska, 35, was unconscious for most of a 90-minute ride

inside a storm system that killed a fellow paraglider training for

the championships in the northern New South Wales town of Manilla.

Her chances of surviving what all paragliders fear were described

as infinitesimal.

The former world champion and favourite for the women's title said

she still had a chance of finishing on the podium despite frostbite

and injuries from tennis ball-sized hailstones.

"The injuries are still not really recovered," she told national

broadcaster ABC. "I also had to change the glider because the one I

flew is no more flying correctly. So it's not so easy in two days to

change the mind, the glider and the body. It will not be easy, but I

will try."

Polish-born Wisnierska passed out at 9,947 metres because of lack

of oxygen. Despite her clothes being frozen to her body and the

glider being caked in ice, she managed to bring it down safely.

He Zhongpin, 42, was not so lucky. A post mortem of the body of

the Chinese national team member found he froze to death.

More than 150 pilots from 45 nations will compete in the event.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency