Man saves 2 passengers from burning hot air balloon; tragic video of him falling to death goes viral
A man lost his life after saving two people from a burning hot air balloon during the First Balloon Festival in Zacatecas, Mexico. A balloon festival is a gathering of hot air balloons, and it features flights, races, and associated activities.
The victim was identified Luicio N, 40. He was attending the First Balloon Festival, a part of the Enrique Estrada 2025 Fair, the local police said. The incident occurred on Sunday. A video capturing the moments the man was hanging off the balloon soaring into the sky, as flames engulfed it, has gone viral.
As per Riviera Maya News reports, Luicio helped two passengers escape the fire-engulfed hot air balloon but got tied up in its rope. Below the burning basket, Luicio was seen clinging to the rope as the balloon ascended higher before ultimately collapsing, leading to his tragic death.
Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, the secretary general of Zacatecas, confirmed the details in a Facebook post. The translation of his post said, 'I regret to inform you that during the First Balloon Festival, part of the Enrique Estrada 2025 Fair organised by the city council of this municipality, a person lost their life in an unfortunate incident while aboard a hot air balloon. Authorities immediately rushed to the scene to provide care and support to those affected. We have requested the State Prosecutor's Office to conduct the relevant investigations to clarify the facts and determine responsibilities.'
The other two passengers were treated for first-degree burns at a local hospital, as per the New York Post.
TRIGGER WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT
NEW: Man falls from the basket of a hot air balloon after it caught on fire in Zacatecas, Mexico.
The man was seen hanging onto a rope as the balloon continued to go higher in the sky.
The incident unfolded when the basket caught fire on the ground. In a final act of… pic.twitter.com/BHAY9Bn7xJ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 13, 2025
Social media users were deeply moved by Lucio's heroic actions. One user said, 'Rest in peace! Sending love and prayers.' Another user wrote, 'May God have mercy on Lucio's soul, and may He comfort Lucio's family and friends, meeting them at their point of need with grace, strength, and peace. Life is precious; cherish every moment with those you love, for we never know how much time we have.'
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