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| Bedford balloon pilot's 'split second decision' to land in street | Bedford balloon pilot's 'split second decision' to land in street |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The hot air balloon was about two hours into its journey before it came down in an unexpected location in Bedford | The hot air balloon was about two hours into its journey before it came down in an unexpected location in Bedford |
| A hot air balloon pilot landed in a narrow, car-lined, residential street after making a "split-second" safety decision. | A hot air balloon pilot landed in a narrow, car-lined, residential street after making a "split-second" safety decision. |
| Oliver Surridge, 40, said his training "kicked in" when he was forced to set down in Bower Street, Bedford, at about 09:30 BST on Saturday. | Oliver Surridge, 40, said his training "kicked in" when he was forced to set down in Bower Street, Bedford, at about 09:30 BST on Saturday. |
| He had started his journey at about 07:15 from Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire, but a change in wind direction and than a lack of wind meant he had to think quickly. | He had started his journey at about 07:15 from Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire, but a change in wind direction and than a lack of wind meant he had to think quickly. |
| He was trying to reach nearby Russell Park, but instead avoided houses, rooftops, cars, telegraph poles and cables, and set down without causing any damage "within Civil Aviation [CAA] guidelines", he said. | He was trying to reach nearby Russell Park, but instead avoided houses, rooftops, cars, telegraph poles and cables, and set down without causing any damage "within Civil Aviation [CAA] guidelines", he said. |
| Residents filmed a hot air balloon landing in between rows of houses in Bedford | Residents filmed a hot air balloon landing in between rows of houses in Bedford |
| Mr Surridge, from Bedford, who has been in the industry for 10 years and a pilot for five, said he had one passenger and a ground crew of two men, who were following the flight in a car with a trailer. | Mr Surridge, from Bedford, who has been in the industry for 10 years and a pilot for five, said he had one passenger and a ground crew of two men, who were following the flight in a car with a trailer. |
| "I was heading to the east side of Bedford, towards the Priory Marina area," he recalled. | "I was heading to the east side of Bedford, towards the Priory Marina area," he recalled. |
| "When I got to the edge of the town I came down lower and the wind took a massive direction to the right. | "When I got to the edge of the town I came down lower and the wind took a massive direction to the right. |
| "I was creeping at low speed, and was looking to land, but the wind was just so light. | "I was creeping at low speed, and was looking to land, but the wind was just so light. |
| "We call it 'becalmed' when the wind stops... that's what happened in town, around the Castle Road area. | "We call it 'becalmed' when the wind stops... that's what happened in town, around the Castle Road area. |
| "The decision was taken as I had to land on the road safely and within the CAA guidelines. | "The decision was taken as I had to land on the road safely and within the CAA guidelines. |
| "It was a split-second decision — you just go into autopilot." | "It was a split-second decision — you just go into autopilot." |
| Oliver Surridge said he was "confident I could get it down" | Oliver Surridge said he was "confident I could get it down" |
| As the balloon flew over Bower Street, Eben Chinn came out of a house and Mr Surridge he threw him his landing line. | As the balloon flew over Bower Street, Eben Chinn came out of a house and Mr Surridge he threw him his landing line. |
| "Because there was no wind, he could hold it in place and we managed the balloon down slowly, down between the wires, the cars and the houses," said the pilot. | "Because there was no wind, he could hold it in place and we managed the balloon down slowly, down between the wires, the cars and the houses," said the pilot. |
| "It was easier to handle from the ground." | "It was easier to handle from the ground." |
| Mr Surridge's actions were praised by eyewitnesses. Emma Firman, who filmed the episode, said "he did an excellent job". | |
| Video footage shows the balloon about to land on cars, but people on the ground manage to manouevre its basket on to the tarmac in the middle of the road. | Video footage shows the balloon about to land on cars, but people on the ground manage to manouevre its basket on to the tarmac in the middle of the road. |
| Eben Chinn was in Bower Street on Saturday morning when he saw something that did not "look right" | Eben Chinn was in Bower Street on Saturday morning when he saw something that did not "look right" |
| Mr Chinn, 22, said that when he saw the balloon he shouted to ask the pilot if he needed any help and Mr Surridge replied "can I throw you a rope?". | Mr Chinn, 22, said that when he saw the balloon he shouted to ask the pilot if he needed any help and Mr Surridge replied "can I throw you a rope?". |
| He caught it and held on to it. | He caught it and held on to it. |
| "I was really struggling to pull it by myself, then two blokes ran in and helped me get it down on the ground. | "I was really struggling to pull it by myself, then two blokes ran in and helped me get it down on the ground. |
| "It was the weirdest thing, I did not expect to see it, but in the end it was all a bit of fun". | "It was the weirdest thing, I did not expect to see it, but in the end it was all a bit of fun". |
| The balloon came in low over the Castle Road area of Bedford, before setting down in Bower Street | The balloon came in low over the Castle Road area of Bedford, before setting down in Bower Street |
| Mr Surridge said: "I want to give a massive thank you to everyone who helped. | Mr Surridge said: "I want to give a massive thank you to everyone who helped. |
| "Eben and a few others assisted me so I didn't hit anything; they listened to me perfectly." | "Eben and a few others assisted me so I didn't hit anything; they listened to me perfectly." |
| He confirmed the only damage was a small burn mark in his balloon when it deflated so quickly on landing. | He confirmed the only damage was a small burn mark in his balloon when it deflated so quickly on landing. |
| "I've been left feeling absolutely relieved; you're always learning," he said. | "I've been left feeling absolutely relieved; you're always learning," he said. |
| "It's one of those things — it happens but not very often; you have to follow your planning and then let your training come into play." | "It's one of those things — it happens but not very often; you have to follow your planning and then let your training come into play." |
| The British Balloon & Airship Club confirmed the craft "landed without incident" and that everyone on board was OK. | The British Balloon & Airship Club confirmed the craft "landed without incident" and that everyone on board was OK. |
| The CAA has been approached for comment. | The CAA has been approached for comment. |
| Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |