A couple who had been taking a romantic hot air balloon ride over the Southern California shores on Sunday ended their journey with a leisurely swim after their airborne vessel came crashing into the Pacific Ocean.

The hot air balloon landed in the water north of San Diego to the excitement of a crowd of hundreds gathered on the beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea that day. Eric Barretto had just proposed to his fiancee (she said yes!) when the disaster occurred.

Via NBC7 in San Diego:

The pilot, who identified himself as Tim with Panda Air Bear Balloon Flights, said that as the winds pushed the balloon to the west, he thought the best thing to do was get to the water and have the onshore winds help push the balloon back to shore.

Onlookers on the beach and surfers out to sea rescued the pilot and the newly engaged couple from the waves, after their pilot threw a line to shore. The balloon was pulled in from there.

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple!

[Image via NBC7]