What began as a joyful celebration in Zacatecas, Mexico, ended in devastation when a hot air balloon caught fire during the city’s inaugural Balloon Festival. The horrifying incident, which occurred at the Enrique Estrada Fairgrounds, claimed the life of 40-year-old Lucio N and was captured on video, quickly spreading across social media.
Lucio’s Final Act of Bravery
Lucio, along with two other passengers, was aboard the hot air balloon when flames engulfed the aircraft mid-air. Eyewitnesses recounted his heroic actions in the face of chaos. As the fire intensified, Lucio managed to help his fellow passengers escape from the burning basket, guiding them to safety.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
NEW: Man falls from the basket of a hot air balloon after it caught on fire in Zacatecas, Mexico.
The man was seen hanging onto a rope as the balloon continued to go higher in the sky.
The incident unfolded when the basket caught fire on the ground. In a final act of… pic.twitter.com/BHAY9Bn7xJ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 13, 2025
However, in his attempt to secure their lives, Lucio became entangled in the balloon’s ropes. A now-viral video, shared by media personality Collin Rugg on X, showed Lucio hanging from the balloon’s rope as it continued to rise. Moments later, he tragically fell to his death. Rugg captioned the clip with a solemn “RIP” and included details of the incident.
Survivors Sustain Burns
The two survivors were quickly rescued and transported to a local hospital, where doctors treated them for first-degree burns. Local police later recovered Lucio’s body at the scene.
Government Confirms Casualty
“We regret to inform you that during the First Balloon Festival… a person lost their life after an unfortunate incident aboard a hot air balloon,” said Secretary General Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza in an official statement.
The event, which had filled the skies with vibrant hot air balloons, has now become a sombre memory marked by one man’s selfless sacrifice.