French man breaks world record for standing on top of hot air balloon at altitude

CHATELLERAULT, France - The sky is the limit for a daredevil in France, who broke a world record for standing on top of a hot air balloon at more than 13,000 feet — or nearly 2.5 miles — up in the air and helped to raise money for a charity in the process. 

Remi Ouvrard, 28, shared a video of himself on Wednesday while at 3,637 meters (11,932 feet) above ground, an altitude that represents the phone number of France’s annual charity campaign Telethon, 36-37, aimed at raising money for rare neuromuscular diseases.

"Symbolically, we thought that it would have been great to reach at least this altitude," Ouvrard told local reporters, according to an English translation. 

But the balloon soared even higher, reaching a peak altitude of 4,016 meters (13,175 feet) over Chatellerault in western France, the Agence France-Presse reported. The daring ride shattered Ouvrard’s previous world record of 1,217 meters (3,992 feet) above sea level in 2020, according to the news agency.

Ouvrard said Wednesday that there was "good wind direction, good light, good speed."

"Perfect conditions to make this flight this morning," he told local reporters, per an English translation. 

The balloon was being operated by Ouvrard’s father and the trip lasted almost 90 minutes, according to local news outlets. 

The Grand Chatellerault Twitter account also shared a video showing the balloon — and Ouvrard — soaring over Chatellerault in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of the country. 

This story was reported from Cincinnati.