Police have named the eleven people killed in yesterday's hot air balloon tragedy in Carterton.
They were:
- Hot air balloon pilot
Lance Hopping, aged 53
of Masterton.
- Husband and wife
Howard and Diana Cox of
Wellington. Howard was aged 71 years and Diana 63.
- Husband and wife
Desmond and Ann Dean of
Masterton. Ann was aged 65 and Desmond aged 70.
- Cousins
Valerie Bennett, aged 70 of Masterton
and
Denise Dellabarca, aged 58 of
Paraparaumu.
- Partners
Stephen Hopkirk, aged 50 and
Belinda Harter, aged 49 years, both of Lower
Hutt.
-
Johannes Jordann, known as Chrisjan, aged 21 of
Wellington and girlfriend
Alexis Still, aged 19,
also of Wellington
-
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A service was held today to remember Still and Jordann, the youngest victims of the tragedy.
The balloon trip was meant to be a dream date for the keen actors.
They had tried to go on the balloon flight twice but were prevented by the weather.
Friends are still struggling to believe news of their death.
"Our hearts just absolutely stopped, and we immediately started praying for them and their families, hoping that wasn't the case, that they weren't on it, but it turns out they were," said Gillian Cameron.
Although aged just 21 and 19, the pair had worked as missionaries in Malawi and planned to return as nurses.
"They made a great difference over there," said Cameron.
"Chrisjan is such a gentleman and Alexis just lights up a room, just a beautiful girl."
Friends have also turned to Facebook to pay tribute the pair.
'A great couple'
Desmond and Ann Dean spent their lives in Masterton and were well-known in the community.
Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell watched them grow up.
"I've known their parents. I've know them as they've grown up. I've encountered their grandchildren at schools."
Desmond, a builder by trade, helped put up a children's playground at Douglas Park School.
Daniell said Ann played a very supportive role in the community.
"They've always been a great couple very family
orientated."
It is understood the couple's ride in the balloon was a family
gift.
Family in grief
Pilot Lance Hopping was set to marry partner Nina Kelynack in just a few months.
Local Gary Caffell says his invite to the wedding arrived shortly after the crash.
"It's just so hard for everyone. I think the community's grieving at this stage, we'll take each day as it comes."
Hopping's family have gathered in Carterton.
"They grieve in their own way. I think we've just got to let them do that. Its a hell of a time for them," said Caffell.
Bodies removed
A further two bodies have been removed from the scene this afternoon. The bodies of a male and female who jumped from the balloon before it crashed were taken to Wellington Hospital's mortuary last night.
The remaining bodies are expected to be removed from the scene tonight and tomorrow.
Wairarapa Area Commander Brent Register said Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and search teams remain at the scene of the crash, alongside Fire Service personnel.
Register said support is continuing to be provided to the families of the victims and some family members have visited the scene of the crash with police staff.
"Yesterday's fatal crash is not only a tragedy for the people of Carterton and the wider Wairarapa community, but for the whole of New Zealand, who are also mourning the loss of these victims," Register said.
"We will continue to support the families of the deceased as they begin to deal with their grief."
Inspector Register says the DVI process to formally identify them all will take several days to complete.
Eyewitnesses have been formally interviewed.
Officials say it could be six months to a year before any findings are released.
Different roles
Multiple agencies are investigating the crash but it could take six months before any findings are released.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission's inquiry will determine the cause of the crash, while the CAA is looking at occupational safety and health and regulatory matters.
The NZ Fire Service is providing expertise to the investigations and Victim Support are assisting the Police Family Liaison Team in providing assistance to the families of the deceased.
Blow to tourism
The local tourism industry is reeling after the accident.
Destination Wairarapa says hot air ballooning is a key tourism attraction in the region and visitors have been enjoying a ballooning experience for more than 10 years.
"We are all devastated by the events that happened in Carterton yesterday and our thoughts are with the victims' families and with the Carterton community," general manager David Hancock said.
Hancock says they have met with the directors of Early Morning Balloons, the company involved in yesterday's tragedy.
"This is a tragic accident and we are trying to provide as much support as we can to our local council, Destination Wairarapa staff and our members.
"This will affect our community for some time and we will work closely with everyone as they come to terms with what happened yesterday."
Hancock says he has received messages of support from tourism industry groups all over New Zealand.
Carterton Mayor Ron Mark said the region's annual hot air balloon festival in March will go ahead, despite yesterday's tragedy.
The pilot of the balloon that crashed, Lance Hopping, was a safety officer for the festival.
Full co-operation
Early Morning Balloons says it is fully co-operating with official investigators and is devastated by the accident.
"This tragedy will affect many families and our thoughts and sympathy lie with families and friends of the passengers and pilot whose lives have been tragically ended," director Andrew Livingston said.
"Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy."
Early Morning Balloons was established in 1992 and began flying commercially from its Carterton base in 1997.
It says the balloons are certified every 12 months or 100 hours and are inspected by qualified aircraft engineers. All pilots are fully qualified professional Commercial Balloon Pilots who have to undergo regular flight tests conducted by the CAA.
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