Basket case: The hot air balloon that got away
18th September 2007
In a scene reminiscent of the film 'Enduring Love' this amazing picture shows a man vainly hanging onto the rope of a hot air balloon as he desperately tries to stop it escaping. Rick Ashby, 54, of Longview, Texas was taking part in a game which involved trying to hit targets on the ground with bean bags when the balloon crashed. Luckily the balloon's female passenger in the balloon managed to jump to safety but Rick clung on as he desperately tried to hold it down.
In the film, adapted from Ian McEwan's novel and starring Rhys Ifans and Daniel Craig, a man clings onto the rope of an untethered balloon that is floating away and dies when he can no longer hold on and plummets to his death. Luckily for Rick, in this case he knew when to give up and let go. He managed to survive the fall of up to 30 feet although he didn't get away unscathed as the fall broke both of his legs.
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What kind of maniac thinks they'd get away with this unscathed?! The mind boggles...
