A fatal balloon accident in Christchurch
A fatal balloon accident in Christchurch
[3 Nov. 1899]
G.B. Toomey and T.T. Carter are shown launching a dinghy from the pilot station, Little Port Cooper, Lyttelton Harbour. They were going to the aid of Capt. Lorraine (real name: David Mahoney, of Auckland) who had been giving a parachute display at Lancaster Park on 3 Nov. 1899 when his parachute came adrift from the rapidly ascending balloon. The parachute fell off and Capt. Lorraine was left clinging to the balloon which headed over the Port Hills and out to sea. Signalmen at the Port Levy lookout saw the balloon land in the sea about 10 miles from Lyttelton and a boat was launched from the Harbour Board station hut. However, there was no trace of Capt. Lorraine's body and he was presumed drowned
File Reference CCL PhotoCD 3, IMG0094
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