Man dies after falling from hot-air balloon in Melbourne’s north
A man has died after falling from a hotair balloon in Melbourne’s north-east.
Emergency services were called to Albert Street in Preston where a man’s body was located about 7.30am on Monday.
Police were speaking to other occupants in the balloon and witnesses to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. The road was closed in both directions between Wood Street and Murray Road, and motorists were urged to avoid the area where possible.
The death was not being treated as suspicious. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
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The balloon landed safely at Yarra Bend Park, police said. According to media reports, counselling was being offered to the other passengers.
Today Show reporter Izabella Staskowski told 3AW radio it was a “really confronting, shocking scene in Preston this morning”, as Albert Street was a very suburban area with lots of homes.
The National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation issued a statement after the company BalloonMan was asked for comment.
In a statement, the groups gave condolences to the man’s loved ones.
“Hot air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit,” the statement read.
“Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatised by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counselling for all affected.”
The hot air balloon took off from CT Barling Reserve, Reservoir, at 7am and the man fell soon after.
The matter is also being investigated by WorkSafe Victoria, the Air Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
In April 2022, a hot air balloon on its maiden flight with 13 passengers and a pilot on board was forced to land among buildings in Elwood in Melbourne’s south-east.
Three people suffered minor injuries.
Another two people were injured on New Year’s Eve in 2021 during a hard landing in a field near Lilydale, east of Melbourne, in which the balloon’s basket was dragged 30 metres.
A fuel leak also sparked a fire on a hot air balloon flying over Victoria on Boxing Day in 2018, with one of its 15 passengers cutting their hand after the basket landed in trees.
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