Hot air balloon worker plunges 33ft to his death after ‘being blown into the sky by a gust of wind while retrieving the aircraft’
- The incident reportedly occurred this morning at a park in south-western China
- The alleged 49-year-old man was retrieving a hot air balloon that has just landed
- He was suddenly blown into sky by the wind along with the aircraft, reports said
- Terrifying footage shows the worker clinging onto his life before losing his grip
A hot air balloon worker at a Chinese scenic park plummeted 33 feet to his death today in front of horrified onlookers after he was dragged into the air by the wind, according to reports.
The man, reportedly 49, was said to have been blown into the sky while holding onto the lighter-than-air aircraft on the ground at the beauty spot in south-western China’s Yunnan Province.
The outdoor facility had been suspended following the Monday incident while an investigation was underway, local officials told reporters.
The man, reportedly 49, was said to have been blown into the sky while holding onto the lighter-than-air aircraft on the ground at the beauty spot in China’s Yunnan Province
The alleged accident took place at about 11.30am on Monday at the Tengchong Volcano Geothermal National Geological Park in the city of Baoshan, reported local TV station.
The worker was scooped up into the sky by an unexpected gust of wind while retrieving the hot air balloon that had just landed on the ground.
Footage filmed by a witness shows the man clinging onto the safety rope attached below the aircraft which continued to rise.
He then quickly slid down on the webbing, seemingly losing his grip. The rope appeared to suddenly break in half as the worker fell, watched by screaming onlookers.
The Tengchong officials confirmed the incident to the Chinese media on Monday, adding that they would shortly release a statement.
The alleged accident took place at about 11.30am on Monday at the Tengchong Volcano Geothermal National Geological Park in the city of Baoshan, reported local TV station
An anonymous staff member from the local tourism ministry told The Beijing News that the victim was a 49-year-old male worker at the scenic park. He had fallen from 10 metres (33 feet) above the ground.
No official notices have been posted by the authorities at the time of writing.
The news comes as another hot air balloon worker in China has died on his first day in the job after plummeting to his death during an accident last month.
The victim was allegedly pressing the basket against the ground when the lighter-than-air aircraft took off unexpectedly, taking him with it.
He was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene on October 2 in the Youyi Manor hot air balloon flight camp in Zhuzhou, southern China.
His company claimed he had not followed its procedure correctly, which caused the tragedy.