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'Mayhem' in Northampton as hot-air balloon lands in street | 'Mayhem' in Northampton as hot-air balloon lands in street |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A hot-air balloon pilot has told how he "caused mayhem" after he was forced to land in the middle of a street. | A hot-air balloon pilot has told how he "caused mayhem" after he was forced to land in the middle of a street. |
The balloon was brought down by Matt Rate in Hilldrop Road, Northampton, on Friday evening. | The balloon was brought down by Matt Rate in Hilldrop Road, Northampton, on Friday evening. |
Mr Rate said the wind had suddenly dropped and if he had left the landing any later he could have come down over the town centre. | Mr Rate said the wind had suddenly dropped and if he had left the landing any later he could have come down over the town centre. |
"It was the safest option at the time," he said. Both Mr Rate and his two passengers were unharmed. | "It was the safest option at the time," he said. Both Mr Rate and his two passengers were unharmed. |
"I told the two passengers 'it is going to be tricky' and to trust me. I think people were a bit shocked that I got the balloon down into such a tight shape." | "I told the two passengers 'it is going to be tricky' and to trust me. I think people were a bit shocked that I got the balloon down into such a tight shape." |
Mr Rate had called his ground-based crew to let them know about the lack of wind and what he was planning to do. | Mr Rate had called his ground-based crew to let them know about the lack of wind and what he was planning to do. |
Before coming down in the street he tried landing in a nearby park. But as he was descending he realised he was at risk of striking a tree and decided to pull up and find an alternative landing site. | Before coming down in the street he tried landing in a nearby park. But as he was descending he realised he was at risk of striking a tree and decided to pull up and find an alternative landing site. |
As he came towards Hilldrop Road, his ground team sectioned off an area of the road to traffic. | As he came towards Hilldrop Road, his ground team sectioned off an area of the road to traffic. |
'Lamp-post obstacle' | |
"The only control you have is up and down," said Mr Rate, who first got into ballooning at the age of 10 or 11. | "The only control you have is up and down," said Mr Rate, who first got into ballooning at the age of 10 or 11. |
"In a way this was the same as any other landing. You have to compose yourself and not damage anything - you have to have that heightened awareness and be completely on the ball." | "In a way this was the same as any other landing. You have to compose yourself and not damage anything - you have to have that heightened awareness and be completely on the ball." |
The main obstacles in the Hilldrop Road landing were people's homes and a lamp-post. | The main obstacles in the Hilldrop Road landing were people's homes and a lamp-post. |
Once he landed, residents in the area helped him fold up the balloon's envelope. | Once he landed, residents in the area helped him fold up the balloon's envelope. |
A police spokeswoman said they were alerted shortly before 21:00 BST by members of the public who had seen the balloon come down. | A police spokeswoman said they were alerted shortly before 21:00 BST by members of the public who had seen the balloon come down. |
"Officers attended and it was established there had been no accident," said the spokeswoman. "The balloon had just landed in an unexpected spot." | "Officers attended and it was established there had been no accident," said the spokeswoman. "The balloon had just landed in an unexpected spot." |