Melbourne hot air balloon tragedy: Witnesses reveal man’s final conversation before he fell to his death in Preston

A man who fell from a hot air balloon in a suspected self-harm incident spent his final moments talking politics with the ride operator before plunging to his death, witnesses say.

The man was one of ten people on board the balloon when it took off over Melbourne at around 7am on Monday.

He fell moments later and his body was discovered around 7.30am in the courtyard of a house on Albert Street in Preston, in Melbourne’s north-east.

Witnesses told Seven News the man discussed politics with the ride operator as the balloon soared through the air.

Footage taken by one of the witnesses shows the man, dressed in a brown sweater, alongside other guests as they enjoyed views of the city at dawn.

But tragedy struck just 15 minutes later when, much to the horror of other guests, the man unexpectedly emerged from the basket.

The pilot immediately called out on May 1 when horrified motorists and families on the ground saw the man falling through the air.

Emergency services were called to Albert Street, in Preston, in the north-east of the city, shortly afterwards after her body was found in a front yard.

Power lines were seen down across the road while a white sheet covered the man’s body on the pavement under an SES tent.

The balloon landed safely 8km away at Yarra Bend Park in Fairfield, and police quickly surrounded it once it landed.

Passengers on board the hot air balloon were said to have been deeply traumatized by what happened and the operator offered them counseling.

Passengers on another hot air balloon flight, launching at the same time, said that about 15 minutes into their ride they heard distress calls on the radio reporting that someone had fallen from another ball at Preston.

Meanwhile, shocked residents said they woke up to a loud bang as blaring sirens filled the street shortly after.

“My brother heard a loud bang, almost like a large object falling into your house. And it was only when we heard all the sirens that we came out,” a resident told the media.

Power was cut to a number of homes, and buildings were damaged.

A number of hot air balloon operators operate sunrise flights with up to 16 passengers in the basket at a time.

Officers will prepare a report for the coroner.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted hot air balloon operator Balloon Man for comment.

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.