A 33-year-old man “waved” at the video camera from a hot air balloon, after which he jumped into the void
A 33-year-old man intentionally jumped out of a hot air balloon during flight in September. According to the investigation, he “waved” at a camera in the nacelle before jumping out of the balloon.
PHOTO: AP
Jesus Lato Garzon, aged 33, had boarded a flight operated by Virgin Balloons Flight on the route Billingshurst – Dunsfold, villages in Great Britain, on September 19, writes The Mirror.
Garzon, originally from Watford, was with 16 other passengers and a pilot, all of whom witnessed the crash.
It was stated before the court that the pilot had spoken to him before the flight at 6:15 in the morning and “he had no worries” regarding his health or ability to fly.
Detective Sergeant Elaine Keating told the coroner: “Everyone knew there was a camera to record the flight and the pilot asked them to look at the camera for a photo. Jesus turned and waved to the camera and then climbed out of the balloon.”
She added that he left the balloon “very fast”not existing “no chance” for the other passengers to stop him.
Garzon's family attended the coroner's hearing via video link from Spain, assisted by an interpreter in the courtroom.
A note was found on him
Garzon has been described as “a much loved son, family member and friend” and had not previously expressed any mental health concerns to his GP.
The balloon was divided into five sections, and he was with three other passengers. The flight took off late due to fog after a safety briefing at approximately 8:45 am.
A note was found on Garzon, which the coroner deemed to indicate suicidal intent.
The coroner stated: “I must make it clear that it is not the role of this court to determine why Jesus resorted to his actions and I will not speculate as to what was going through his mind at the time.”
“It's a huge shock, he seemed like a positive person”
Mr Garzon worked at a five-star country resort in Hertfordshire popular with celebrities.
A few weeks before his death, he resigned in the middle of a shift after telling colleagues that he had to “think about his lifeThe 33-year-old was originally from Seville, Spain, but had worked at the hotel for the past five years.
Colleagues at The Grove paid tribute to him following his death.
“He was a nice guy, a hard worker and good at what he did. It was a huge shock because he always seemed like a positive person, someone who would never give up. But I guess you never know what's really on someone's mind.
He had left in the middle of a shift and told the other colleagues: «I have to go and think about my life». Everyone assumed he wanted to do something else with his time…not this. He had family in Seville, Spain. He used to take sabbaticals to visit them for a few months and then come back to the UK.”
Another colleague told how Mr Garzon had jokingly remarked last year that he would never want to ride in a hot air balloon because of his fear of heights.
“I knew him little, so this shocked and pained me. He was a nice guy, I used to chat and joke with him. Still, I find it odd that he went by hot air balloon.
Last summer, the hotel offered hot air balloon rides to guests and then staff. I mentioned that I could go, but Jesus shook his head and said, 'You'll never catch me in one of those, I don't like heights!'”
