A memorial balloon that was released from Blackburn and landed in a tulip farm in the Netherlands has connected the family with new friends for life.
In April 2021, Levi O’Malley and his family released a memorial balloon from the Feilden’s Arms in Mellor Brook in honour of his sister, Scarlett Rose O’Malley, who had recently died aged 27.
Attached to the balloon was a message to anyone who found it, saying: “Please message on the Facebook page, ‘Here I Am’,” which was a self-help page Scarlett had created herself.
The balloon travelled an astonishing 500 miles, crossing international borders, until it landed in BLT (Burger, Lilies, and Tulips) field in Valkkoog in the Netherlands.
Pieter Burger, the tulip farmer, and his wife Marisska discovered the balloon and were so moved by the family’s story he came up with the idea to name a new tulip species, where the balloon landed, after Scarlett Rose.
Levi said: “We’ve been in contact with their family for the past two years.
"They’ve sent over hundreds of tulip bulbs for us to plant in Scarlett’s schools and around the homes of family members, as well as in Australia where Scarlett and I used to live.
"We plant them in November and they bloom in April which is when Scarlett's birthday is. I’ve also placed an emblem of a tulip on Scarlett’s headstone.”
The two families met up in the UK this month and bonded over their special connection.
Levi said: “Marisska came over to visit us last year, then this year they both came over with their teenage sons, Rick and Stephan.
"Pieter actually returned the balloon on the last night of their stay which was quite a shock.
“When he brought the balloon in, he had everyone in tears. The balloon could have landed in the sea, or in cow muck and been trodded on and forgotten about.
“But it landed in a tulip field, in the most beautiful place, found by the most beautiful, amazing family who had gone out of their way to get in touch and it’s made everything easier. We’re connected for life now.”
Levi mentioned that during their stay, he took the family to Ewood Park, and they also enjoyed a visit to Clitheroe Castle.
Pieter and Marisska brought with them 800 tulip bulbs named after Scarlett, dropping some off for Scarlett's gags (grandma) Rose McManamon, uncle Liam McManamon, and auntie Bernidette Hinnigan, which they will plant in November.
The story also made the headlines of a local paper in Valkkoog when the balloon touched down in the farm's field, 30 miles north of Amsterdam.
Explaining his initial reaction when he found Scarlett’s self help page on Facebook, Pieter said: “When I looked at the page I started to understand that the young woman had passed away and from that moment I couldn’t let it go.
“I was overloaded with warm messages from friends, uncles, aunts and Scarlett’s parents. They thought naming the tulip was such a beautiful gesture.
“With tears in my eyes, I was reading through the messages of Scarlett’s mum, who sent me a little message pretty much every day. The tulip had a special place in the funeral service and has provided a connection between us.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here