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| Ombersley: Peter Gregory killed in balloon accident | Ombersley: Peter Gregory killed in balloon accident |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Peter Gregory died at the scene after his balloon fell to the ground in Worcestershire | Peter Gregory died at the scene after his balloon fell to the ground in Worcestershire |
| A man who died in a hot air balloon accident was an experienced pilot. | |
| Peter Gregory, 25, known as "Pilot Pete", died when the balloon fell to the ground in Ombersley, Worcestershire, early on Sunday morning. | |
| The crash is being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). | The crash is being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). |
| His family said Mr Gregory, from Cirencester in Gloucestershire, died doing something he loved. | |
| "Be it in a hot air balloon or as an airline pilot, Peter's passion for flying was something his family and friends could only admire and support him towards," his family said in a statement issued through West Mercia Police. | |
| "When he set his heart to something, he'd never give up, he was driven and determined, and one could only watch on in awe." | |
| According to a profile on UK Competition Ballooning, Mr Gregory gained his licence on his 17th birthday and is a third generation pilot. | |
| He has previously competed in piloting competitions. | |
| Emergency services were called to Holt Fleet Road in Ombersley, about seven miles north of Worcester | |
| Mr Gregory's balloon crashed on to Holt Fleet Road at about 06:20 BST on Sunday. | |
| It followed a hot air balloon festival nearby in Worcester, which finished on Saturday night. The festival has said it was not related to the event. | |
| A witness who lives nearby, Lynn Wood, told the BBC she had seen "two single balloons going across the sky in the distance and one suddenly started to fold up". | |
| She said she did not see a fire ball as has been reported in several online news reports. | |
| Her account was supported by Paul Burrows, from the British Balloon and Airship club, who said some reports into the accident had been "sensationalised". | |
| He said it was "a real tragedy" and extended his condolences to Mr Gregory's family. | |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Air Accidents Investigation Branch | Air Accidents Investigation Branch |
| Hot air ballooning | Hot air ballooning |
| Ombersley | Ombersley |