Seven people were taken to hospital Thursday with back injuries and fractures after a hot air balloon crashed in high winds during a dawn tour in Australia, officials said. Multiple ambulances were called to Dixons Creek, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Melbourne, where the basket of the balloon was found on its side. “Seven people have been treated and transported to hospital by Ambulance Victoria paramedics after a hot air balloon landed heavily in Dixons Creek this morning,” ambulance officials said. “Paramedics were called to the scene just after 7am and assessed a total of 16 people.” The injured, many in their 60s, were all in a stable condition. No details of their nationalities were made public, although local media said they were a mix of domestic and international tourists. The Herald Sun newspaper said they were thrown from the basket as the balloon attempted an emergency landing after being buffeted by strong winds. Senior Sergeant Carolyn Sunderland said the pilot was taking evasive action due to the weather and came down in a private field near a construction site. Published in Daily Times, February 9th2018.