Ready for takeoff: Mal and Alma Dempsey (left). Above and right: the couple escaped serious injury when the hot air balloon they were in crash landed and was dragged sideways before coming to a halt in a vineyard.
Camera IconReady for takeoff: Mal and Alma Dempsey (left). Above and right: the couple escaped serious injury when the hot air balloon they were in crash landed and was dragged sideways before coming to a halt in a vineyard. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Senior fun seekers walk away from balloon crash

Staff ReporterWanneroo Times

Mal and Alma Dempsey, along with 20 other passengers, were dragged sideways for 200m before the basket and balloon came to a stop in a vineyard.

Despite knowing three people had died in a popular air ballooning tourist spot in May this year, Mr Dempsey thought the risk of injury was low.

‘My kids said before we left not to go riding hot air balloons,’ he said. ‘When it was going down I was thinking about the kids telling us off, but we were too busy hanging on and making sure we didn’t fall out to think of much else.’

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The pair continued on their seven-week trip after the accident feeling a little shaken, but without serious injury.