British balloonist makes it across Atlantic
London-AP -- A British-born adventurer has become the first balloonist to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a traditional open wicker basket. David Hempleman-Adams succeeded in his third attempt, reaching Ireland today after enduring nearly four days of cold and sleep deprivation in a five-foot by seven-foot basket.
The balloonist, who's also climbed the highest mountains on all seven continents and was the first to fly over the North Pole in a balloon, set out from New Brunswick, Canada on Friday.
His ground team says it's still not clear where he'll land.
Hempleman-Adams had a scare part way across the Atlantic when he heard two bangs and the balloon fell. It turned out to be the effects of a sonic boom from a Concorde jet, thousands of feet above.
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