Man dies after falling from hot air balloon near Wisborough Green

A man has died after falling from a hot air balloon near Wisborough Green in West Sussex on Friday morning, Sussex Police said. Officers were called to Newpound Common shortly after 9.20am and, following a search that lasted about four hours, a body was recovered from a nearby field at about 1.50pm.

Police said the man had been among a group on a balloon flight that was travelling from Billingshurst to Dunsfold when the incident occurred. A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to a report of a man having fallen from a hot air balloon near Newpound Common, Wisborough Green, just after 9.20am. Following an extensive search the body of a man was sadly found in a field at 1.50pm." She added that the search involved neighbourhood officers, police drones, search officers and dogs.

Detectives have yet to formally identify the man and an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of his death, police said. At this time the incident is not being treated as suspicious, the force added.

Local emergency services responded to the initial report and coordinated a multi-agency search of the area after the balloon was reported to be in flight between Billingshurst...