Mountain 'Sparkler' Effect in South Africa

What was reported

In early evening in 1976 Charles and Moira G., staying with Don and Margie Mc. at a holiday home at Pearly Bay some 50 to 60 km beyond Hermanus, watched from a first-floor balcony a very bright light high over the mountains. It seemed to be a series of lights or perhaps one, small but brilliant, darting left and right and up and down at a speed no plane or helicopter could match; there was no airport nearer than Cape Town. Hazy and without clear form, it drifted away at an angle before suddenly accelerating and vanishing. Immediately afterwards the whole mountain seemed to crackle silently like a lit sparkler, with thin threads of light rising from the spot where the object had been, as if static electricity had been left behind. All four were profoundly affected. Transcript by Pam Puxley.

What Hind made of it

Printed from Pam Puxley's interview without editorial doubt; the aftermath on the mountain is highlighted as the most interesting element.

Explanation offered
Aircraft ruled out by witnesses as no airport nearby and motion too erratic

In their words

• Then, all of a sudden, it picked up tremendous speed and just disappeared.

• the whole mountain started to crackle as though it was lit by 'sparklers'

Cross references

• Charles G.'s 1987 orange lights sighting, same section

Source

Cynthia Hind, UFO Afrinews No 8 (Sept. 1993), spread 12