Up, up and AWAY… with his helium balloons
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
(note: no English subtitles on video!)Â
A Roman Catholic priest is missing after floating away with hundreds of helium party balloons off the southern coast of Brazil.
Rescuers are searching off the coast where pieces of balloons were found. The priest lifted off Sunday afternoon, wearing a helmet, a thermal suit and a parachute.
He was reported missing about 8 hours after losing contact with port authority officials after calling in his coordinates by cell phone somewhere over the ocean.
The video (above) shows the smiling 41-year-old priest - Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli - slipping into a flight suit and being strapped to a seat attached to a huge column of green, red, white and yellow balloons. He then soars into the air to the cheers of a crowd.
A spokeswoman says the priest is an experienced skydiver and his supporters are certain he will be found alive and unhurt. “We are absolutely confident he will be found alive and well, floating somewhere in the ocean. He knew what he was doing and was fully prepared for any kind of mishap.”
De Carli was trying to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.
Other adventurers have also used helium balloons to emulate Larry Walters, who in 1982 rose about five kilometres above Los Angeles in a lawn chair lifted by balloons.
