Highwire daredevil falls 100ft to his death in balloon stunt tragedy

A highwire daredevil plunged more than 100ft to his death when a hot air balloon stunt went wrong.
Tancrède Melet, 32, slipped and fell while hanging from the basket, colleagues said.

 The adrenaline junkie was well known in his native France for a series of highwire stunts and a film about the sport.

He was also a respected climber, acrobat, parachutist and wingsuit flyer and was the leader of comedy daredevil collective the Flying Frenchies.

The group announced his death on Facebook saying: "Tancrède Melet, an amazing lover of life, surprised us yesterday morning in us leaving too fast.

"He leaves behind wonderful memories, a taste of freedom and a head full of dreams."

Melet was taking part in an artistic project with his fellow acrobats when he died in the Drôme region of South East France, on Tuesday.

It is believed he was preparing for a stunt - believed to be walking a line hung between two balloons, which he has performed many times before.

His colleagues said: "He made an accidental fall of 30 metres after being suspended at arm's length from the basket."
Melet, who leaves behind partner Tiphaine Breillot and their daughter Leonie, quit his engineering job four years ago to follow his "quest of freedom".