An inquest has ruled that a 33-year-old man who died after falling from a hot-air balloon during a leisure flight in West Sussex intended to end his own life, following a detailed examination of the events surrounding the incident and his actions leading up to it.
The man, identified as Jesus Lato Garzón, had been one of 17 passengers, plus the pilot, on a Virgin Balloon Flights trip on 19 September. Originally from Seville, Spain, he had been living in Watford and working in the hospitality sector. The group took off from an airfield near Billingshurst after the flight was delayed earlier that morning due to heavy fog.
At the hearing in West Sussex, Assistant Coroner Sally Morgan confirmed the death as intentional, noting that evidence found at the scene—including identification documents and written instructions regarding his remains—supported the conclusion. The court was told that there had been no prior concerns about his mental or physical fitness to fly, and he had no documented history of contact with mental health services either in the UK or in Spain.
Routine Scenic Flight Turns Tragic
Detective Sergeant Elaine Keating, who oversaw the police investigation, provided a timeline of Garzón’s day. He arrived at Dunsfold airfield in Surrey at around 6:15 a.m. for the scheduled balloon flight. Thick morning fog prevented a safe launch, so passengers and crew relocated to an alternative site in Adversane, where the balloon eventually lifted off at approximately 8:45 a.m.
The balloon’s passenger basket was divided into five compartments holding up to four people each. Garzón, described as “quiet” by others in his compartment, did not exhibit behaviour that raised immediate concerns during the flight. The aircraft, equipped with a CCTV system designed for safety and recording purposes, ascended smoothly over the West Sussex countryside.
As part of the regular in-flight routine, the pilot asked passengers to turn toward the on-board camera for a mid-flight photograph. Moments later, Garzón experienced the fatal fall. Although the court was informed of the sequence of events, the coroner did not provide or encourage speculation regarding his thoughts or feelings at the time.
Investigation and Recovery
The pilot immediately alerted emergency services, prompting a coordinated search by police and rescue teams. Garzón’s body was found some hours later in a field near the A272 between Billingshurst and Wisborough Green. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police recovered his passport, identification card, and a written note giving specific instructions about what should be done following his death—key documents the coroner referenced when reaching her conclusion.
A toxicology report showed traces of an inactive cannabis metabolite, indicating earlier exposure but no evidence of active impairment. Coroner Morgan emphasised that the substance found had no bearing on the incident.
Family Followed the Inquest Remotely
Members of Garzón’s family were not physically present in the courtroom but followed the proceedings via remote video link. The coroner expressed her condolences and noted that, while the court could determine cause and intent based on evidence, it could not answer the deeper personal questions surrounding his decision.
“It is not for this court to determine why Jesus took the actions that he did,” Morgan said. “I will not speculate on what was going through his mind at the time.”
Coroner Urges Awareness Without Speculation
Morgan underscored that the purpose of the inquest was to establish facts, not assign blame or explore psychological motives. She thanked investigators, witnesses and the flight operators for their cooperation during what she described as a thorough and sensitive inquiry.
Source:Africa Publicity
