Friday 27 / December / 2024
Melbourne: A man fell from a hot-air balloon that was passing over the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, Australian news agency AAP reported on Monday.
The balloon was up in the air 30 minutes before the incident occurred in the northern suburbs of the city. The balloon landed safely 5 miles (8 kilometres) away from the site of the body, the report said.
After the body was found in a residential area, Victoria state police announced that they would prepare a report for the coroner.
AAP quoted police as saying that the death is not being treated as suspicious.
"Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatized by this," said a joint statement by the National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation.
The pilot and passengers of the hot-air balloon have been offered psychological support, according to the statement.
"Hot-air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit," the federation added, while expressing condolences for the man's family and friends.
