Brit mum dies after falling 20ft from hot air balloon in front of her husband young sons
Susan Astle died after the basket flipped over while approaching the ground
A BRIT mum died after falling 20ft from a hot air balloon as her husband and two young sons watched on in horror.
Susan Astle, 48, her husband and sons were on a dream South African safari when gusts flipped the basket as it came in to land.
Mrs Astle and a girl of four, among 14 trippers on board, were thrown to the ground 20ft below.
She was rushed to hospital but later died from serious head injuries.
The girl suffered serious injuries, and her mother, who also fell out, was critically injured as the balloon was dragged over rocks before smashing into a tree.
A paramedic at the scene near Mooinooi said: “The basket tilted when it was about 20ft from the ground because of wind and the lady and a child fell out before it crashed.
“The woman sustained serious head injuries.
“Her husband and two sons went with her to hospital but doctors couldn’t save her. It’s an awful tragedy.”
The four-year-old and her mum were still being treated for serious internal and spinal injuries.
Survivor Olivia Denny, 70, said: “The wind swept us away. It felt like driving backwards in a car at 40km/h.
“We were dragged through bushes and rocks before we landed between two trees. We had to hold on for dear life.”
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Rescue teams said the balloon took off in good weather from Skeerpoort but hit gusting winds as it attempted to land.
Loanne Louw, of the emergency rescue service, said: “The balloon allegedly bounced off the ground a few times before it hit a tree.”
The trip was operated by Original Balloon Safaris run by Brit Bill Harrop in Skeerpoort.
He said: “We are co-operating with authorities and are conducting our own investigation.
“We’ve never had anything like this happen in 35 years.”
The pilot was having counselling.
His friend Graeme Addison said: "My friend Bill - the original pioneer of ballooning in South Africa - is mourning a death along with several injured in this reported accident.
"You can't eliminate risk from adventure, no matter how careful and professional you are. A gust of wind at the wrong moment and pouff! the graceful balloon crashes."