Disaster was narrowly averted as a hot air balloon attempted to land in a residential street in Bedford.
Footage shows the aircraft just a couple of metres away from the rooftops of homes on Bower Street at around 9.30am on Saturday.
The Variohm Components-branded balloon was about to crash in between several parked cars, telegraph poles and wires, and rows of houses when a dogwalker rushed to save the day.
Sam Coldham saw the balloon descending as he was out walking his dog with his partner Sian Marie King.
It is understood that the balloon was attempting to land in nearby Russell Park, but ‘lost momentum’ because of the wind.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Sian caught the moment Sam used a guide rope to bring the balloon to the ground.
She said: ‘I think the conditions were really still with not a lot of wind, so it lost momentum I think.
‘The guys said my partner Sam saved their bacon. It was very, very close to a real disaster.’
The British Balloon and Airship Club confirmed the balloon ‘landed without incident’, adding that no one was injured.
Emma Firman, who also filmed the landing, said it ‘was the most incredible scene’ as she thought it was ‘going to hit the roof tops, then the cars and wires’.
How safe are hot air balloons in the UK?
Hot air balloon excursions have grown in popularity in recent years, but so have incidents.
While relatively rare, when they do take place, they can result in serious injuries or fatalities – with the majority during the landing phase.
In the UK, deadly crashes do not happen often, but they are not enitely unheard of.
A study carried out between 1976 and 2004 found that 98 incidents had happened, with two fatalities and 50 serious injuries, according to a report on ScienceDirect.
Just two weeks ago, a hot air balloon almost tipped over after it crashed into a primary school in Bristol.
Footage showed the navy balloon, with JLL emblazoned on it, descend rapidly before crashing into the roof with a loud thud.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta said there were no injuries.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
