Balloon record for adventurer

Explorer becomes first man to cross North Pole in hot-air balloon

Published Wednesday 30 November 2016 - 16:24 Modified Wednesday 30 November 2016 - 16:24

A 63-YEAR-OLD doctor-turned-explorer from the south-west of France has become the first man to successfully cross the North Pole alone in a hot-air balloon.

Jean-Louis Etienne set off from the northern tip of Spitzberg for the 3,100km solo crossing, travelling over the North Pole to reach Siberia just five days later.

The expedition will not be Mr Etienne’s first appearance in the record books. The Tarn resident became the first person to cross the Arctic on foot in 1986.

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