Man identified as hot air balloon fall victim

A 33-year-old man died after falling from a hot air balloon near Billingshurst, West Sussex

A man who died after falling from a hot air balloon in West Sussex has been identified as a 33-year-old from Hertfordshire, police said.

Emergency services were called to a report of a man having fallen from a hot air balloon at Newpound Common in Wisborough Green, near Billingshurst, at about 09:20 BST on Friday.

The body of the 33-year-old man was found in a field at 13:50, Sussex Police said. His family has been informed.

Police said officers were investigating the incident, but it was not being treated as suspicious.

The man was with a group of 16 people and a pilot in the hot air balloon at the time, which was travelling from Billingshurst to Dunsfold in Surrey, police added.

Det Sgt Elaine Keating said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go to the family of the man and everyone on the flight. We are offering them specialist support at this time."