RICHARD Branson's balloon co-pilot, Alex Ritchie, has died three months after being seriously injured in a parachute accident.

Mr Ritchie, who saved Mr Branson's life in a round-the-world balloon bid last year, died of multiple injuries and severe blood poisoning. He suffered serious injuries after falling 13,000ft on to a tarmac airfield in Morocco when his parachute failed to open while he was training for another record balloon attempt in January. Mr Branson paid tribute to his friend by saying he would dedicate his next balloon flight to him. Mr Ritchie, who was 52, was practising emergency sky-diving techniques in Marrakech when the accident happened. Mr Branson yesterday praised him for saving his life and that of their other co-pilot, Per Lindstrand. Last year, the engineer earned world-wide acclaim when the Virgin Challenger balloon began plunging towards the ground during a record bid. He climbed out of the capsule and threw out heavy fuel tanks which slowed the descent to a controllable pace. "It is never easy losing a friend even if one has had some months in preparing for it," Mr Branson said.

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