Hot air balloon crash: 11 injured in New Zealand after 'landing went wrong'
A HOT AIR BALLOON has crashed in New Zealand.
At least eleven people are injured after the balloon crashed in Morven Ferry Road in Arrowtown, New Zealand. Police officials said the crash took place at around 10am local time (11pm GMT).
One person was seriously injured, one suffered moderate injuries while nine others had minor injuries.
Two people were transported by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital.
A St John spokesman said they received a 111 call from a member of the public at 9:54am (10:54pm GMT).
He told the New Zealand Herald: "We have dispatched two helicopters, four ambulances, a manager in a first response vehicle and a First Response Unit to the scene."
Reports initially held the balloon crashed into a home, but official clarified it had landed in its intended field.
Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult was reported saying on Radio New Zealand: "The briefing that I've had from police is that it wasn't an emergency landing, it landed where it was supposed to land but the landing itself went wrong.”
Mr Boult added that upon landing, the balloon was “hit by a gust of wind”.
He then said: "Some people were thrown out of the basket, the balloon basket dragged across the ground until it hit a fence, and the remaining people either exited the basket or were thrown out of the basket.
“The balloon itself then came down on power lines attached to the house, but that had no effect on the people that were in the basket.
"On behalf of the community, I express our deepest sympathies to those involved, and we wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery."
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Phillip Bunn owns the home near where the balloon landed, but was not in when the incident happened
According to the New Zealand Herald, his sister was left very upset.
Mr Bunn says he doesn't know what happened, adding: "I just feel sorry for the people on board."