Couple escape after hot air balloon hits house
A couple were left with a rubble strewn home after a hot air balloon crashed into their property – and then flew off.
David and Halina Woolford’s house was severely damaged by the collision which forced the pair out of the building due to safety fears.
Fire crews rushed to their home in Oakham, Leicestershire, England after receiving an emergency call and worked to make the building safe.
Mrs Woolford said they were lucky the accident during Sunday lunchtime did not cause any injuries to herself or her husband.
She told the Leicester Mercury that she was in the kitchen when she heard a deafening crash while her partner was upstairs in bed.
Mrs Woolford ran up to tell him what had happened and the pair rushed outside and found the roof of their home damaged and part of the chimney destroyed.
She added: “We are so lucky we weren’t physically injured.
“We have seen balloons go up in the air and over our house many times before but it never occurred to us that something like this might happen.”
The couple dialled the emergency services and when fire crews arrived they told them to leave the property because of safety concerns.
Building inspectors were called to examine the property and they decided the chimney should be removed.
The balloon was possibly seen soon after the accident by a resident whose home is separated from the Woolford’s house by a field.
Trevor Bell said he recognised it and believes it has flown over the area a number of times.
He added: “When it came over the trees on the far side it was low and it rose as it came towards us.
“We’ve seen it fairly frequently, it flies regularly in this area.”
Kevin Viney, chairman of the British Association of Balloon Operators, said his organisation was not involved in investigating the accident but had carried out its own review and established the balloonist was not a commercial operator and could be a private pilot.
A Leicestershire police spokeswoman said: “An incident was reported to us at 12.40pm on Sunday.
“It took place in Catmose Park Road, Oakham.
“We were notified that a hot air balloon had hit the roof of a house. No one was injured.”
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: “Our aviation enforcement branch are investigating. Whoever was involved is not confirmed yet. If we find there are breaches of rules of the air, we could prosecute.”
