Balloon accident at Sheffield.
On Tuesday, 20th May 1902 this gas filled balloon was being flown over the Owlerton area of Sheffield with a parachutist demonstrating the parachute to spectators on the ground at the Sheffield Wednesday football ground. Unfortunately after rising to around 700 feet the parachutist jumped but the parachute lines became twisted, the parachute failed to open and the young lady attached to it was killed when she hit the ground in Hillsborough Park. The pilot and owner of the balloon was "Professor" Lt. George Philip Lempriere who, at that time, was reasonably famous.
Parachutist - Miss Edith Brooks, aged 23, killed. Buried Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool.
Edith Brooks and her sister Maude Brooks were exhibiting parachutists. Maude was more well known than her younger sister and had been making descents for many years but was unable to attend the event in Sheffield owing to another booking so Edith attended in her place. Edith made several descents on 19th May 1902 at Sheffield to entertain a large crowd with the final one ending with the balloon landing on the roof of a house and being slightly damaged. These were her first ever descents. Her death occurred during the first jump of the second day.