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Hot-air balloon accident in Hunter Valley injures six people | Hot-air balloon accident in Hunter Valley injures six people |
(1 day later) | |
Balloon Safaris blames wind speed for accident that left four in hospital, including woman with suspected spinal injuries | |
Australian Associated Press | |
Sat 13 Jan 2018 22.14 GMT | |
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A hot-air balloon that crashed in the New South Wales Hunter Valley with 15 people onboard has left four people in hospital, including a young woman with suspected spinal injuries. | A hot-air balloon that crashed in the New South Wales Hunter Valley with 15 people onboard has left four people in hospital, including a young woman with suspected spinal injuries. |
The balloon’s basket made a hard landing, tipped sideways and was dragged a number of metres at Greta, about 21km from Cessnock, on Saturday morning. | The balloon’s basket made a hard landing, tipped sideways and was dragged a number of metres at Greta, about 21km from Cessnock, on Saturday morning. |
Balloon Safaris has blamed a quicker than expected shift in wind speed for the accident, saying conditions were calm in the morning when four hot-air balloons took off around 5.45am. | Balloon Safaris has blamed a quicker than expected shift in wind speed for the accident, saying conditions were calm in the morning when four hot-air balloons took off around 5.45am. |
“The pilot decided to land at the first available landing spot,” a company spokesman said on Saturday. “The balloon landed firmly and some injuries were sustained by passengers in the basket as a result.” | “The pilot decided to land at the first available landing spot,” a company spokesman said on Saturday. “The balloon landed firmly and some injuries were sustained by passengers in the basket as a result.” |
Six people were injured, including a woman in her 20s with suspected spinal injuries and an 80-year-old woman who fractured her leg, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said. | Six people were injured, including a woman in her 20s with suspected spinal injuries and an 80-year-old woman who fractured her leg, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said. |
They were both airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. | They were both airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. |
NSW Ambulance transported two other women, one with a suspected fractured rib and another with a cut to her head, to Maitland district hospital. All the women are in a stable condition. | NSW Ambulance transported two other women, one with a suspected fractured rib and another with a cut to her head, to Maitland district hospital. All the women are in a stable condition. |
The other two people only suffered minor cuts and didn’t require further treatment, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said. | The other two people only suffered minor cuts and didn’t require further treatment, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said. |
A Balloon Safaris spokesman said the company regretted the incident and has been providing assistance and support to the passengers and their families. | A Balloon Safaris spokesman said the company regretted the incident and has been providing assistance and support to the passengers and their families. |
The Air Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and is expected to investigate the incident. | The Air Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and is expected to investigate the incident. |
New South Wales | |
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