Woman is killed in balloon accident

A BRITISH mother died and two other people were injured after they were thrown from a hot air balloon as it was dragged by gusting winds in South Africa.

The accident happened at about 7am local time on Tuesday after the balloon, which was carrying 15 people, passed over a mountain in preparation for landing at Mooinooi.

The holidaymaker, understood to be Susan Astle, 48, was with her husband and two sons when the accident happened.

She was rushed to a nearby private hospital after the crash but died that night, while a four-year-old girl and her mother were also taken to hospital after being thrown from the basket.

Hartbeespoort Emergency Rescue Unit spokeswoman Loanne Louw said the passengers fell out of the basket after it hit the ground three times after being caught by gusty winds.

However, a media consultant for the balloon company, Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris, denied reports that passengers had fallen 20ft (6m) when the basket capsized.

He said: “The balloon was on the ground. It had to make a fast landing because of the gusting winds (and) got dragged across the field.

“And only because it got dragged beyond the perimeter of the field, it then hit some rocks and bushes and things, which then capsized the basket. That’s when the injuries were sustained.”

He said the balloon was the newest in the company’s fleet and the South African Civil Aviation Authority was investigating the incident.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who sadly died.” Pictures from our archive