skygal3 0 #1 February 26, 2003 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=573&e=1&cid=573&u=/nm/20030226/od_nm/life_balloon_dc SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A British man plunged to his death from a hot air balloon in California's Napa Valley area on Tuesday, police said. The planned morning flight over the state's famous wine region was canceled because of bad weather, but the operator agreed to let the British visitors take a quick mini-flight, Gene Lyerla of the Napa County Sheriff's office said. "They decided to inflate the balloon a bit and raise it off the ground to take some photos," he said. The British man, whose name was not immediately released, was apparently hanging from the side of the balloon throughout the flight for unknown reasons, Lyerla said. He fell from a height of 300 to 500 feet and died instantly upon hitting the parking lot below. The Bonaventura Balloon Company, which takes tourists up for $195 a flight, did not return calls for comment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #2 February 26, 2003 Quote Geez. People fall from perfectly good hot air balloons everyday..where was his rig?? That is terrible... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #3 February 26, 2003 How awful. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #4 February 26, 2003 Oh c'mon. Now that takes effort to fall out of a hot air balloon. That guy obviously had some issues. If nothing went wrong with the balloon, he was a moron. Thats like hanging on the other side of the rail at niagra falls.. if you want to get a high jump with a parachute for gods sake. Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #5 February 26, 2003 I guess a bungee cord would have come in handy too?? Brings back memories at the wffc.. I remember going up in the balloon.. To start it off the guy burnt a 4 foot hole in the material and then said "don't worry about it".. So up to about a thousand feet I was uncomfortable as hell.. Felt and looked like we were climbing slower than everyone else.. I just wanted the hell out of that balloon... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suz 0 #6 February 26, 2003 Gee whizz, what do you know? *suz shakes her head* Now why would you inflate the ballon, if it was bad weather...surely the operator's knew they were doing the wrong thing. Devastating and pathetic at the same time. Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #7 February 26, 2003 Quote I guess a bungee cord would have come in handy too?? Brings back memories at the wffc.. I remember going up in the balloon.. To start it off the guy burnt a 4 foot hole in the material and then said "don't worry about it".. So up to about a thousand feet I was uncomfortable as hell.. Felt and looked like we were climbing slower than everyone else.. I just wanted the hell out of that balloon... I was supposed to ride in that balloon but after we got it inflated they cancelled due to winds. I wasn't too happy about the hole in the side either. Next day that guy with the hole in the balloon ended up draping it over some power lines when he landed it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #8 February 26, 2003 I have a feeling that somebody is going to have his pilot's ticket pulled."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TEB6363 0 #9 February 26, 2003 Quote let the British visitors I wonder if he had help?? After all, girls are evil Once the plane takes off, you're gonna have to land - Might as well jump out!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
