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26/03/2012
Hot-Air Balloon Collides With Power Lines
A hot-air balloon crashed into power lines in Northamptonshire on Sunday leaving the pilot and two passengers hanging 15m in the air.
The balloons canopy got tangled and wrapped around live power cables just after 18:00 and meant the rescue team had to wait almost four hours for confirmation the power was off.
By 23:30 the three people had been brought safely back to the ground where they were treated by ambulance staff for minor injuries including burns.
The pilot, 18-year-old Adam Griffiths, said: "We were coming in to approach a playing field but unfortunately we hit the power lines, which went with quite a bang.
"I'm not entirely sure how it happened, it's all a bit of a blur to be honest.
"We are all a bit cold from staying up there for so long and there are also a few minor specks of burns, but we are all fine.”
Robin Porter, from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We had to wait until the power lines had been earthed before we could carry out the rescue.
"The electric company will continue to work over the next few hours to get the balloon away from the power lines before the electricity can be switched back on."
The balloons canopy got tangled and wrapped around live power cables just after 18:00 and meant the rescue team had to wait almost four hours for confirmation the power was off.
By 23:30 the three people had been brought safely back to the ground where they were treated by ambulance staff for minor injuries including burns.
The pilot, 18-year-old Adam Griffiths, said: "We were coming in to approach a playing field but unfortunately we hit the power lines, which went with quite a bang.
"I'm not entirely sure how it happened, it's all a bit of a blur to be honest.
"We are all a bit cold from staying up there for so long and there are also a few minor specks of burns, but we are all fine.”
Robin Porter, from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We had to wait until the power lines had been earthed before we could carry out the rescue.
"The electric company will continue to work over the next few hours to get the balloon away from the power lines before the electricity can be switched back on."
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