Tragic video captures man dangling from fiery hot air balloon before plummeting to his death after saving two passengers
A man fell to his death from a hot air balloon that went up in flames during a Mexican festival Sunday, after he heroically saved the lives of two other people onboard in a horrific accident caught on camera.
Harrowing footage posted on X shows the man dangling from a rope that he became entangled in as the basket above him, a raging inferno billowing smoke, floats higher and higher above the ground in an overcast sky.
The balloon is next seen gliding along a sunny, bright blue sky when the desperate man, just a black dot from the vast distance, lets go and plummets many feet to Earth.
The 40-year-old man, identified only as Luicio N. by the police, died in the fall, according to the Riviera Maya News. — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 13, 2025
'I regret to inform you that during the First Balloon Festival, part of the Enrique Estrada 2025 Fair organized by the city council of this municipality, a person lost their life after an unfortunate incident while aboard a hot air balloon,' said Secretary General Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza.
The terrifying incident began on the ground when the hot air balloon, participating in the Zacatecas First Balloon Festival at the Enrique Estrada Fair, caught fire with Luicio and two other passengers sitting inside.
Lucio heroically leapt into action, grabbing the two passengers out of its basket and guiding them to safety.
But as the balloon moved, Lucio became entangled in its lines and was lifted into the air with it.
He dangled from the rope until his fatal fall, according to the local outlet.
Police arrived at the scene to recover the hero's body, and paramedics took the two injured passengers to a local hospital, where they were treated for first-degree burns.
Cops are investigating the accident and encouraged hot air balloon operators to take all safety precautions, the Riviera Maya News reported.
'We have asked the State Attorney General's Office to conduct the corresponding investigations to clarify the facts and determine responsibility. We urge all municipal authorities to strengthen their verification mechanisms to avoid these types of risks during their activities and festivities,' Reyes Mugüerza said.
Originally published as Tragic video captures man dangling from fiery hot air balloon before plummeting to his death after saving two passengers
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