The day of the Press Launch had already seen the team perform their first jump from a balloon earlier that morning - with no appreciable problems.

High-tailing it back from Salisbury Plain to Ston Easton Park, they set to with a will and put on a superb show for the press, without giving any inkling that the next day was set for a full dress rehearsal.

Sponsors were happy that there was a high profile for the event and their products, whilst the key players contained their very real fears that the next day would bring problems and danger.

After the successful dawn launch and jump, the balloon was inflated and tethered at Ston Easton Park as the Press arrived, all of us believing that we were still over a month away from the record...

Press Launch