A man tragically fell to his death from a hot air balloon in West Sussex last week, despite having previously expressed a fear of heights, according to a former colleague. The deceased, Jesus Lato Garzon from Watford, who had recently left his job at The Grove in Hertfordshire, was found in a field near Newpound Common. The search for him involved drones, officers, and dogs and lasted over four hours before his body was discovered.
The 33-year-old, originally from Seville, Spain, was one of 16 passengers and a pilot on a Virgin flight from Billingshurst to Dunsfold. He had paid for the flight himself and had worked at The Grove for five years. Colleagues described him as a positive and determined individual, with one recalling a conversation a year prior where Garzon had expressed his aversion to hot air balloons due to his fear of heights.
An inquest into the incident will commence at West Sussex Coroner’s Court. Detective Sergeant Elaine Keating expressed condolences to the man’s family and stressed that the death is not considered suspicious. A spokesperson from Virgin Balloon Flights conveyed sadness over the incident and emphasized the well-being of all passengers involved.
Sussex Police confirmed the unfortunate event and mentioned that the investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances. They clarified that the incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time.