Hot air balloon pilot Jo Bailey has achieved an inspiring World Record at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, completing 68 tethered hopper balloon ascents just a year after undergoing major life-saving surgery that left her with a permanent ileostomy.
The 65-year-old accomplished the feat at Ashton Court Estate on 7 August, more than doubling the previous World Records benchmark of 30 ascents.
Bailey, who has around 30 years of experience as a balloon pilot, completed 68 tethered hopper balloon ascents during the challenge. However, for Bailey, the achievement was about much more than breaking a record. She wanted to demonstrate that people can continue pursuing adventures and challenging themselves following serious illness, surgery, trauma or disability. She described the achievement as a proud moment and hoped it would inspire people living with hidden disabilities and illnesses.
Bailey’s journey to the record began after she was diagnosed with a twisted bowel in 2025, following chronic stomach pain. She underwent several major surgeries in which doctors removed portions of her bowel and subsequently spent approximately two months in hospital. During her treatment, she also experienced sepsis. The surgeries resulted in Bailey receiving a permanent ileostomy, a type of stoma. She affectionately nicknamed her stoma “Paloma”, which inspired the name of her record challenge — “Paloma’s Big Lift Off.”
Bailey used the record attempt to raise funds for organisations that supported her during her medical journey, including Crohn’s & Colitis UK and the Intensive Care Unit at Southmead and Weston Hospitals charity. Through the challenge, she also sought to raise awareness for people living with stomas, cancer, hidden disabilities and other physical or mental health challenges.
Bailey previously owned and operated Bailey Balloons in Bristol alongside her husband, Clive, and has spent decades involved in ballooning. After facing a serious illness that threatened her life multiple times, returning to the skies for a record-breaking challenge represented a remarkable personal milestone. By completing 68 tethered hopper balloon ascents, Bailey transformed her recovery journey into a message of resilience, encouraging others to continue challenging themselves and embracing adventure after major life changes.
