Hot air balloon Melbourne

Horrific footage shows the moments before a man died after falling from a hot air balloon in Melbourne.

The man was one of ten people on the ride when it took off at around 7am on Monday.

A video obtained by 7News shows the man, dressed in a brown jumper, standing with other guests as they enjoy a view of the sunrise over the city.

Witnesses said the man seemed fine and was talking politics with the ride’s operator as the balloon took off.

But ten minutes later, as the ride reached about 450 meters, he shocked – and without warning – hurtled himself out of the basket and fell to his death.

The pilot made an urgent call on May Day as horrified motorcyclists and families on the ground watched the man fall from the air.