Gold Coast balloon crash 1990: 30 years since near-disaster in the sea off Burleigh Heads

A holiday trip turned to disaster in a split second in the skies above the Gold Coast when a hot-air balloon was forced to ditch into the sea. This is the incredible tale of survival.

A HOLIDAY trip turned to disaster in a split second in the skies above the Gold Coast on a warm October day in 1990.

It was supposed to be a quick early morning hot-air balloon trip over the Gold Coast before a peaceful landing at Robina.

But the craft, piloted by Roger Meadmore of Pancake Parlour fame, never reached its destination.

Instead, it ploughed into the sea about 20km east of the Gold Coast, with the basket and its terrified passengers dragged along by the still afloat balloon.

FLASHBACK: 50 YEARS OF GOLD COAST PUTT PUTT

The moment the balloon ditched into the sea.

The day began as normal on Tuesday, October 2, when Mr Meadmore, then 56, met his passengers at Nerang.

He was considered one of Australia’s leading hot-air balloon figures and was taking up passengers Alex Steel and his wife Sylvia, both 60 at the time, and a third passenger, Judith Goodwin, who was aged in her 50s.

But things took a turn for the worst just minutes after the 6.30am takeoff with stormy conditions sweeping through the area, which knocked the balloon off course.

The weather forecast was for a north, north-westerly wind but a strong westerly wind blew them out to sea.

FLASHBACK: REMEMBERING THE MERMAID BEACH MCDONALDS

Police divers went into the water to save the Steels.

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PART ONE: BEST GOLD COAST ADVERTISING 1975

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Mr Meadmore knew landing on the beach or the surf would have been too dangerous because of power lines and buildings so he continued to fly the balloon out to sea.

Mr Meadmore contacted air traffic control in Brisbane and alerted them to the impeding crash, sparking a rescue operation which included water police and Southport Air Sea Rescue.

The response was co-ordinated from Brisbane, with rescuers directed to the splashdown site off Surfers Paradise.

Southport Air Sea Rescue vessel skipper Mr Russell Stuart said: “The splashdown was pretty dramatic.”

“The balloon hit the water at about 15 knots and tipped on its side like a bucket.

“The winds were blowing it through the water and the people were hanging on for grim life to avoid being sucked into the sea.”

As the balloon hit the water, Mrs Steel was dragged under.

“I really thought I was drowning. I couldn’t get my head out of the water because I had my foot caught and it was dragging me,” Mrs Steel said.

Roger Meadmore (Inset) and another view of the balloon hitting the water.

“All I thought was that I would drown. I didn’t think about anything else.”

She was hauled to safety by Water Police Constable Greg St Clair who dived from a police launch.

Mr Steel, a funeral director from Sydney, was the only person aboard to come away injured, nursing a badly bruise shoulder.

“I nearly organised my own funeral. I thought this was the end. We’re all going to die,” he said.

“When we came down the basket tipped over. The water rushed in and my wife’s leg was caught in a rope and I saw her dragged under.

Roger Meadmore with his wife Ruth after returning to shore.

“I didn’t see the policeman dive in but when he surfaced with Sylvia I was so relieved.”

Emergency service workers at the time were amazed the Steels survived their experience.

“They were extremely lucky,” said Southport Air Sea Rescue crewman Greg Turner.

“They were so close to drowning when the basket hit the water.”

The difficult part was getting the people out of the basket as it was being dragged through the water at 15 knots, said Sgt Nev Cooper.

For the Steels, it was their first and last ballooning experience.

“I have never been so terrified in my life,’’ said Mr Steel, who injured his right shoulder while being pulled onto the rescue boat.”