OMG! 6 yr flying alone in ballon

**Kathi** · 10-15-2009, 12:25 PM

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...39/detail.html

Ballon not intended to carry a person, no controls, no way to track, DIA is holding planes headed to north. Gusty and strong winds are predicted for this afternoon.

Family is sure he's inside.

**KnottedYet** · 10-15-2009, 12:29 PM

Last update I read was that the brother said he'd seen the boy fall out. No one has located the body, so I assume they're really hoping he's still inside. Poor kid has got to be cold and scared. (if he's still in there)

**Sadie** · 10-15-2009, 12:36 PM

This is an amazing story! Need to be on CNN for more details...

**Kathi** · 10-15-2009, 12:41 PM

It just came down, no one inside! But where is the boy? I sure hope he's safe.

**Zen** · 10-15-2009, 12:42 PM

If he was in there...well, I don't know how you could breathe helium for 2 hours.

Why were they beating on it when it landed? That kid is hiding out somewhere.
The whole thing is too weird.

**Kathi** · 10-15-2009, 01:27 PM

They were poking holes in it to let the helium out so it wouldn't take off again. Apparently it was losing helium that's why it came down.

Family didn't design or intend for it to fly.

Search teams are being organized to look for him.

They just said there is a certain spot where the box came disattached from the balloon. That's where they thought he might have been.

Lots of farm land out there.

**Tuckervill** · 10-15-2009, 01:29 PM

That family is weird. I really hope the boy is okay somewhere, but I smell a fish.

Karen

**Zen** · 10-15-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Kathi

They were poking holes in it to let the helium out so it wouldn't take off again.

Yeah, but beating on it? why not just poke a hole?

**Kathi** · 10-15-2009, 02:29 PM

Viewers must have questioned that too because they came on the news and said they weren't beating but poking holes in it. Close-ups show them punching holes with shovels.

Apparently this guy, and his family, was an experienced "storm chaser", avid weather fanatics, loved science and this was a family project. They've been interviewed by local TV stations.

Now they're saying there was no "other box" but there is damage to the bottom of the base.

**PscyclePath** · 10-15-2009, 03:06 PM

When I first heard it, I thought of an old Bloom County story line where Opus, Milo, and Cutter John attached balloons to John's wheelchair for a cross-country trip. Never thought somebody would actually try it, and a 6-year-old is way to young to be a Bloom County fan...

**Kathi** · 10-15-2009, 03:08 PM

He's been found safe. He's home. No explanation yet.

**Possegal** · 10-15-2009, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by PscyclePath

When I first heard it, I thought of an old Bloom County story line where Opus, Milo, and Cutter John attached balloons to John's wheelchair for a cross-country trip. Never thought somebody would actually try it, and a 6-year-old is way to young to be a Bloom County fan...

Actually Bloom County took the idea from a real life event. And this guy was definitely not the last one to try it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters

Here's a more recent version
http://www.foxnews.com/images/299465...ying_chair.jpg

**ny biker** · 10-15-2009, 03:18 PM

How bizarre.

I wonder how much this whole episode cost, in terms of diverted/delayed flights, the search effort, etc.

**Zen** · 10-15-2009, 03:23 PM

Anybody wanna take this bet?

He and his brother were playing, accidentally launched the thing, knew they were in trouble, he hid out and the brother didn't know wth to say.

**KnottedYet** · 10-15-2009, 04:55 PM

Zen for the win!

Kid was hiding in a box in the attic.

Family was on "Wife Swap" TV show. What a lot of publicity for one family, eh?

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