Record breaker follows in father’s footsteps
A WOMAN has smashed world and British records after flying a hot air balloon to 15,000ft.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams, 30, broke the world female altitude record after reaching 15,100ft and enduring temperatures of up to -30 degrees.
The fashion consultant, from Bath, Somerset, is the daughter of renowned adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, 63, who holds over 20 hot air balloon world records.
She flew an AX4 hot air balloon for an hour and 46 minutes in Calgary, Canada, to achieve the new world record.
The AX4 balloon class is one of the smallest categories in the discipline and is barely the height of a double decker bus.
Alicia, who has held a hot air balloon licence for eight years, snatched the title from Pauline Baker who set the previous record of 14,016ft in 2008.
She said: “It was pretty frightening up there, I’ve never felt so cold and at that height you feel very alone and a little bit helpless.
“I love ballooning and have done a few flights a year since I got my licence eight years ago, but it’s not like I can pop up to Hyde Park and stick a balloon up. So to break the world and British records is unbelievable for a relative novice like me.
Sir David’s hot air balloon world records include being the only person to fly a balloon to the North Pole and back.
He also captured British records for altitude and duration.
Miss Hempleman-Adams added: “I grew up following my dad’s incredible exploits and he has been a huge inspiration.”