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Man in 100-balloons camping chair flight | Man in 100-balloons camping chair flight |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British adventurer has flown 25km (15.5 miles) across South Africa suspended from 100 helium balloons. | |
Tom Morgan, from Bristol, reached heights of 8,000ft (2,438m) while strapped to a camping chair, in scenes reminiscent of the Pixar smash Up. | |
The 38-year-old spent two days inflating balloons ahead of the flight, which he described as "magical". | |
The challenge moved to South Africa on Friday after several failed attempts in Botswana. | The challenge moved to South Africa on Friday after several failed attempts in Botswana. |
"The problem was finding a good weather window and it was difficult to protect the balloons as they kept bursting," Mr Morgan said. | "The problem was finding a good weather window and it was difficult to protect the balloons as they kept bursting," Mr Morgan said. |
With just enough helium left for one more attempt, the adventurer and his team moved their base to just north of Johannesburg. | With just enough helium left for one more attempt, the adventurer and his team moved their base to just north of Johannesburg. |
Describing the experience as "unbelievably cool", Mr Morgan also admitted feeling "somewhere between terrified and elated" as he rose in the air. | Describing the experience as "unbelievably cool", Mr Morgan also admitted feeling "somewhere between terrified and elated" as he rose in the air. |
As the balloons drifted towards the inversion layer of the atmosphere - where the temperature drops - he said the flight started to accelerate very quickly. | As the balloons drifted towards the inversion layer of the atmosphere - where the temperature drops - he said the flight started to accelerate very quickly. |
"I had to keep my cool and start gradually cutting the balloons." | "I had to keep my cool and start gradually cutting the balloons." |
Mr Morgan, who has lived in Bristol for 15 years and runs an adventure company, wants to eventually set up a competitive helium balloon race in Africa. | Mr Morgan, who has lived in Bristol for 15 years and runs an adventure company, wants to eventually set up a competitive helium balloon race in Africa. |
"We will have to avoid areas with lots of spiky bushes though," Mr Morgan said. | "We will have to avoid areas with lots of spiky bushes though," Mr Morgan said. |