HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a young pilot who died in a hot air balloon crash on Holt Fleet Road near the A449 at the weekend.
Peter Gregory was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident which saw the balloon he was piloting fall to the ground in Ombersley on Sunday (June 25).
His death is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), while the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC) said it was aware of the incident.
The 25-year-old’s devastated family released a statement and said his life was ‘25 years of living life to the full’.
“On Sunday morning, our Pilot Pete took one last flight, doing what he loved.” it read.
“Be it in a hot air balloon or as an airline pilot, Peter’s passion for flying was something his family and friends could only admire and support him towards.
“When he set his heart to something, he’d never give up, he was driven and determined, and one could only watch on in awe.
“We will fly together again soon Pete. We love you,” the statement added
The family statement concluded with: ‘We love you’ and was signed off by his brother Dan and ‘Mummy, Daddy and Emma’.
A West Mercia spokesperson said family liaison officers were supporting the family but there was no other police involvement.
Described as a ‘young pilot from the Cotswolds’ on the UK Competition Ballooning website, Peter gained his balloon pilot’s licence on his 17th birthday having being brought up in ballooning.
The ‘third generation pilot’ competed in one British Nationals and gained best newcomer award whilst slowly understanding what competition ballooning was all about, according to the website.
In 2016 Peter and his brother Dan bought a 1991 fluorescent pink balloon.
After losing his job with a previous employer, Peter swapped the pilot’s seat for the drivers seat during the pandemic to deliver pharmaceutical supplies in the Cotswolds for Boots.
Writing at the time, he said: “I am honoured to be working alongside all the key workers but I am looking forward to the aviation industry taking off again.
Rob Jones, head of college at Peter’s former school Rendcomb College, said: “Peter was an impressive young man and we are devasted by this sad news.
“Our thoughts are with his family who were all very much involved in life at Rendcomb College”
