A world champion balloonist has praised a Derbyshire couple for their support during a daredevil world record attempt.

David and Pamela Crampton, of Portland Close, Derby, cheered 47-year-old Virgin hot air balloonist Lindsay Muir on as she took off from Levaldigi Airport, Italy, on Wednesday, February 2, in a two-man balloon.

Flying solo, she was bidding for a new world female altitude record – 34,000 ft – in aid of Oxfam but hit severe turbulence at 10,000 ft, forcing her to descend for fear of being carried over the snow-capped Italian Alps and out to the Mediterranean sea.

Pamela and David were in Italy having won an all-expenses-paid competition with Virgin Balloon Flights.

Lindsay, who’s being called ballooning’s answer to champion sailor Ellen Macarthur, said: “I really couldn’t have attempted it without their help – you’ve got to have people egging you on. The mental preparation required for making world record attempts is absolutely crucial. When you have people there giving you their full support, that’s half the battle won.”

David said: “We were delighted when we found out we’d won this romantic competition to go hot air ballooning in Italy. When we heard we would have the chance to help Lindsay with her record attempt we were even more chuffed. She was just a tiny dot in the sky within a few minutes – we thought she was mad!”

Lindsay, who holds the women’s world duration record having flown from Kent to France in 19 hours, had to breath pure oxygen one hour before the attempt to drain her body of nitrogen, or chance an attack of the bends.

Now she’s setting her sights on becoming the first woman ever to fly across the Atlantic in a hot air balloon: “If these records were easy to break everyone would be having a go at them. Unfortunately I had to descend or I would have been carried out to see. The current female altitude record stands at 33,669 ft, which is the kind of height passenger aeroplanes fly at. I was very unlucky with the weather as the conditions looked just right in the morning, but I live to fight another day! I’m going to be the first woman ever to cross the Atlantic next.”

Virgin Balloon Flights, which has more than 80 passenger carrying launch sites all over the UK, has pledged £10 from every UK balloon flight voucher sold on the back of Lindsay’s attempt to Oxfam.

Virgin Balloon Flights spokesman Alex Hardie said: “Lindsay is a remarkable woman. Her diligence and determination is incredible – she will be back to break this record. Virgin Balloon Flights is delighted to be able to donate £10 to Oxfam for everyone who has seen or heard about Lindsay’s attempt.”

Quote ‘record’ when calling Virgin Balloon Flights to book a UK flight on 0870 4442768, before March 20, 2005, get 30% off and £10 from every sale will go to Oxfam, helping millions of people living in poverty around the world.