The autopsy on the body of the man who died during an air balloon ride in the Alqueva reservoir, in the municipality of Mourão (Évora), indicates that the cause of death was drowning, a police source revealed this Tuesday. The same source told the Lusa agency that additional tests are still pending, which will clarify what caused the man to drown.
Investigative efforts continue with a view to determining possible responsibilities for the incident, said the police source. One of the passengers of a hot air balloon that was on a tourist tour in the Alqueva area was found dead, on Sunday morning, on the banks of the reservoir, after leaving the aerial vehicle. The circumstances surrounding the death of the 55-year-old man are being investigated by the Judiciary Police (PJ).
Meanwhile, the Public Ministry (MP) opened an investigation to investigate the circumstances of the man’s death, which takes place in Reguengos de Monsaraz, according to information provided to Lusa by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR). On Sunday, speaking to Lusa, the girlfriend of the man who ended up dying, Alexandra Santos, who accompanied him on the tourist tour, said that the passenger had left the hot air balloon basket into the water after ditching.
Guido Santos, director of operations and one of the pilots of the company Passageiros do Vento, owner of the balloon and the Windpassenger brand, considered that the incident was “not an aeronautical accident”. “Legally, it was not a balloon accident”, the person responsible argued to Lusa, noting that “this does not mean that the company cannot have civil liability” in the case.
The tourist trip had started in the Monsaraz area, in the neighboring municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, also in the district of Évora.
