Hot air balloon rescue 1999

The Great Hot Air Balloon Rescue Valentines Day, 1999

A Report by Eric Sandy, edited by J. Ross

What would be more romantic then experiencing the sunset from a hot air balloon high above Northern Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe with your loved one on Valentines Day. But, this was no ordinary Valentines Day. The whole scene could not have been more extraordinary if Baywatch writers had dreamed it. But this wasn't just another episode of fantasy lifeguarding, this was very real, life threatening real.

It had all started innocently enough. At dusk, almost every day, hot air balloons travel from Del Mar over inland valleys. Their normal flight path takes them to empty fields for easy landings. Occasionally, balloons have ventured near the beach but always managed to set down safely. On this day, a very unusual wind pattern began blowing the balloons out over the beach towards the ocean.


Two balloons managed to land before the waterline but the third was forced to drop a few hundred yards outside the surf line. As it touched the ocean, the pilot skillfully maintained bouyancy to keep the basket upright and also slow the drag Westward.
This was when a multiple agency rescue operation began. First to respond was Mark Rathsam and Pat Vergne in the Del Mar Lifeguard IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat). They launched from 17th street. It would take them 5 minutes to reach the balloon which was now about 3/4 mile offshore.

The sun had set and It was getting dark. The air was cold, the water was a frigid 54 degrees. The light was suddenly surreal. From the propane firing into the balloon's rainbow colored envelope, came an eerie glow that illuminated the frightened faces. Hovering above, the probing lights from the Sheriff's helicopter added more shadows and sparkles in the ocean spray whipped up by the prop wash. Down below, the rescue boat had arrived. It would take three trips to ferry all of the passengers to shore where waiting lifeguard personnell would offer aid. The pilot chose to stay with his rig, deflate the envelope and be rescued by the Coast Guard.
The lessons? Training was certainly a key to the success of this rescue. Part of the sizzling irony was that Mark Rathsam, the boat operator, was freshly trained. In fact, he had just gotten off the flight from New Zealand where, a few days before, he had finished advanced training in Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) operation. Mark handled the rescue boat with great skill despite the prop chop from the helicopter, the distraction of the balloon and the huge responsibility of eleven very cold, scared passengers. He couldn't have asked for a better chance to put his new skills to use and the rescue crew was most fortunate to have him. The value of cross-trained personnel became apparent in the work of Adam Chase. Although actually on duty as an enforcement officer at the time, Adam is also an experienced lifeguard and responded accordingly.

Adequate staffing was another important part of the balloon rescue. During the off-season, Del Mar, like many small agencies, has only a basic crew on full-time duty. The lifeguard lieutenant, sergeant and permanent lifeguard I are the primary response team. However, knowing that having extra help available is always important, Del Mar keeps a long call list of part-timers. These personnel often live within a few minutes of the beach and can quickly be mobilized when needed. This was the case on balloon day. The boat operator Mark, and lifeguard Jenn Ross both lived nearby and responded within minutes. Having these guards on the payroll year-round is a win-win. For the guards it's an opportunity to keep their skills current and for the City, it's a tremendous safety net, clearly cost effective.
Communication, always at the core of emergency work, was also performed with great skill and efficiency by Eric Sandy and Jim Lischer. The City had recently upgraded its radios to the 800mghz system. Having this flexible breadth which enabled many different agencies to respond and coordinate was a great improvement over previous efforts.
The following day, the basket and envelope were recovered on the beach where they washed in. The adrenaline had dissipated and a clear review of the rescue offered several lessons: Leadership and courage, without it we are lost. During the balloon rescue, there were many instances of excellent leadership of various types. Boat operator Rathsam was quiet and strong, setting the example. Lifeguard Ross was confident and reassuring, guiding the shivering victims the last few yards from the surf line to the safety of the beach. Adam Chase, instrumental in first spotting the troubled balloon, gave direction and cohesion on the beach to the various rescue agencies. Pat Vergne commanded the water operation with a touch of charisma and bravado and handling communications with precision and professionalism was Eric Sandy and Jim Lischer.

In a fitting finale to this successful rescue story, the Del Mar City Council gave public commendations to all those involved.

From Left to Right: Pat Vergne, Eric Sandy, Deputy City Manager Joe Hoefgen, Mark Rathsam, Adam Chase, Jen Ross, Jim Lischer

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The Great Hot Air Balloon Rescue

Valentines Day, 1999

A Report by Eric Sandy, edited by J. Ross

What would be more romantic then experiencing the sunset from a hot air balloon high above Northern Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe with your loved one on Valentines Day. But, this was no ordinary Valentines Day. The whole scene could not have been more extraordinary if Baywatch writers had dreamed it. But this wasn't just another episode of fantasy lifeguarding, this was very real, life threatening real.

It had all started innocently enough. At dusk, almost every day, hot air balloons travel from Del Mar over inland valleys. Their normal flight path takes them to empty fields for easy landings. Occasionally, balloons have ventured near the beach but always managed to set down safely. On this day, a very unusual wind pattern began blowing the balloons out over the beach towards the ocean.

Two balloons managed to land before the waterline but the third was forced to drop a few hundred yards outside the surf line. As it touched the ocean, the pilot skillfully maintained bouyancy to keep the basket upright and also slow the drag Westward.

This was when a multiple agency rescue operation began. First to respond was Mark Rathsam and Pat Vergne in the Del Mar Lifeguard IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat). They launched from 17th street. It would take them 5 minutes to reach the balloon which was now about 3/4 mile offshore.

The sun had set and It was getting dark. The air was cold, the water was a frigid 54 degrees. The light was suddenly surreal. From the propane firing into the balloon's rainbow colored envelope, came an eerie glow that illuminated the frightened faces.

Hovering above, the probing lights from the Sheriff's helicopter added more shadows and sparkles in the ocean spray whipped up by the prop wash. Down below, the rescue boat had arrived. It would take three trips to ferry all of the passengers to shore where waiting lifeguard personnell would offer aid. The pilot chose to stay with his rig, deflate the envelope and be rescued by the Coast Guard.

The lessons? Training was certainly a key to the success of this rescue. Part of the sizzling irony was that Mark Rathsam, the boat operator, was freshly trained. In fact, he had just gotten off the flight from New Zealand where, a few days before, he had finished advanced training in Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) operation.

Mark handled the rescue boat with great skill despite the prop chop from the helicopter, the distraction of the balloon and the huge responsibility of eleven very cold, scared passengers. He couldn't have asked for a better chance to put his new skills to use and the rescue crew was most fortunate to have him.

The value of cross-trained personnel became apparent in the work of Adam Chase. Although actually on duty as an enforcement officer at the time, Adam is also an experienced lifeguard and responded accordingly.

Adequate staffing was another important part of the balloon rescue. During the off-season, Del Mar, like many small agencies, has only a basic crew on full-time duty. The lifeguard lieutenant, sergeant and permanent lifeguard I are the primary response team. However, knowing that having extra help available is always important, Del Mar keeps a long call list of part-timers. These personnel often live within a few minutes of the beach and can quickly be mobilized when needed. This was the case on balloon day. The boat operator Mark, and lifeguard Jenn Ross both lived nearby and responded within minutes. Having these guards on the payroll year-round is a win-win. For the guards it's an opportunity to keep their skills current and for the City, it's a tremendous safety net, clearly cost effective.

Communication, always at the core of emergency work, was also performed with great skill and efficiency by Eric Sandy and Jim Lischer. The City had recently upgraded its radios to the 800mghz system. Having this flexible breadth which enabled many different agencies to respond and coordinate was a great improvement over previous efforts.

The following day, the basket and envelope were recovered on the beach where they washed in. The adrenaline had dissipated and a clear review of the rescue offered several lessons: Leadership and courage, without it we are lost. During the balloon rescue, there were many instances of excellent leadership of various types. Boat operator Rathsam was quiet and strong, setting the example. Lifeguard Ross was confident and reassuring, guiding the shivering victims the last few yards from the surf line to the safety of the beach. Adam Chase, instrumental in first spotting the troubled balloon, gave direction and cohesion on the beach to the various rescue agencies. Pat Vergne commanded the water operation with a touch of charisma and bravado and handling communications with precision and professionalism was Eric Sandy and Jim Lischer.

In a fitting finale to this successful rescue story, the Del Mar City Council gave public commendations to all those involved.

From Left to Right: Pat Vergne, Eric Sandy, Deputy City Manager Joe Hoefgen, Mark Rathsam, Adam Chase, Jen Ross, Jim Lischer

Go to home page