This contemporary statue on the shores just north of Tallinn commemorates the death of American balloonist and parachutist Charles Leroux. Leroux died after landing in the bay of Reval, Tallinn, during his 239th parachute jump (from a balloon filled with lighting gas). Having already canceled his jump once due to the weather, after arguments with his manager, he took the risk to make the jump in high winds which carried him out over the bay where he drowned. He died in 1889 and was buried in Kopli cemetery just outside…
