Famous GDR refugee deceased

berlin - He was perhaps the most famous refugee from Germany: Peter Strelzyk. In 1979 he flew a homemade hot air balloon of the former GDR to the free West Germany. Peter Strelzyk this weekend deceased after a long illness. He was 74 years old.

He gained worldwide fame with his feat. Night after night he and his family sewed fabric panels in a multicolored balloon and finally with his wife and two children and a family friend on September 16 1979 to make the crossing. The attempt failed because almost the balloon caught fire en route. However Strelzyk kept a cool head and extinguished the fire.