Ant and Dec in balloon crash at Wateringbury
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by Andy Gray
A plasterer told how he rescued TV stars Ant and Dec when
their hot-air balloon crash landed near where he worked.
Jim O'Cock, 42, said he and colleagues rushed to pull the stars
out of a hedge when their basket came down to earth with a
resounding bump.
The presenters were filming a new series of Britain's Got Talent
over the skies of Maidstone when the balloon apparently ran out of
fuel.
For a few terrifying seconds, dad-of-two Jim, who was working at
a nearby Hillreed Homes site in Heath Farm, Wateringbury thought he
was about to witness a tragedy.
He said he watched helplessly as the balloon "fell out of the
sky."
"I had no idea who was inside, all I could see was the pilot
pulling frantically on the ropes to stop it smashing into a
tree.
"It hit the ground and bounced a couple of times before landing
in a hedge.
Audio: Jim O'Cock tells
of Ant and Dec rescue
"Me and a couple of colleagues rushed over and pulled at the
canopy to stop the basket getting completely tangled.
"I shouted jokingly, 'nice of you to drop in' and this Geordie
voice replied, 'there's always a comedian isn't there?.'
"I recognised the accent straight away and then the pair
clambered out."
The relieved stars chatted with their startled saviours and told
them their Union Jack balloon had taken off from the Ramada Hotel
in Maidstone.
They had been filming the opening credits for the award-winning
talent show.
A helicopter fitted with a camera had circled them throughout
the journey.
Jim said when he came to their aid he wasn't tempted to ask the
boys to shout "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here," in honour of
the reality show they front.
He said: "They were absolutely lovely people, so down to
earth.
"I told Ant he looked a bit shaken after the balloon landed, but
his reply isn't printable.
"They said Kent looked lovely from above and asked about the
oast houses we're working on because they'd never seen one
before."
Ant and Dec might not have been impressed with their
hair-raising escapade last Wednesday, March 16, but Jim's son
Ellis, eight, was delighted to hear about Dad's brush with
fame.
Jim said: "The trouble is, every day since he's asked to come to
work with me in case I see them again."
Wednesday, March 30 2011
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