Update on Hot Air Balloon Crash in Oudtshoorn | Western Cape Government

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Update on Hot Air Balloon Crash in Oudtshoorn

2 September 2009
Metro Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reported yesterday about a hot air balloon incident in Oudtshoorn in which two people were slightly injured.

The call came through to EMS that there was an accident, but according to Charl Erasmus, the pilot of the hot air balloon, the balloon wasn't in fact in an accident, but that they did a high windspeed landing. "The windspeed increased and I told the passengers I'll have to land, because the wind is getting stronger. We came down very fast and landed, but as I expected, the wind dragged the balloon on the ground, which caused very minor injuries, because we were shaken around in the basket," Mr Erasmus said.

Mr Erasmus sent the couple with an Metro EMS ambulance to the Klein Karoo MediClinic to be seen by a doctor. The doctor attended to the patients and released them immediately, because they only had minor injuries.

Issued by the Directorate: Communications for the Western Cape Department of Health.

For more information contact:

Anzelle Smit
Metro EMS Communication Officer
Cell: 079 891 2625

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