Fast-Moving Storm Swept Up Little Girl

The weather was nice most of the day, for the air show at Rheindalen, in western Germany, this past weekend. A sudden storm, though, turned it deadly.

The tethered, 12-foot helium balloon ride's mooring lines came adrift during that particularly wild storm (a dozen people were killed this weekend in Germeny, by storms), that seemed to have come from nowhere. Witnesses say the day was nice, until minutes before. The balloon had not yet been opened for rides, when the storm hit.

Isobel Victoria Callaghan, 5, whose father, Robert, 40, is a corporal in 35 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers stationed at Sennelager, and whose mother, Hannalore, is German, got tangled in the mooring lines as the balloon ripped away. Only a few people saw the balloon escape and heard little Isobel, caught in the lines and suspended upside-down, calling for help; but one of the few who knew what was happening was her mother, who screamed and watched helplessly as her daughter drifted away. Her young brother, Stuart, was also in attendance. Robert was helping secure other tents and equipment, not far away.

Minutes after the sudden downpour, which had hail and wind gusts reported over 100 mph, the weather calmed down, and the sun came out.

The balloon was found two hours later, 40 miles away, not far from the child's body.

FMI: www.4ni.co.uk