A Brazilian priest’s stunt to raise money seems to have backfired and hopes for his safety are getting gloomier.
Rev. Adelir Antonio di Carli rose high into the air in a chair suspended below hundreds of helium-filled balloons on Sunday. di Carli was attempting to set a record for time in the air supported by party balloons.
It wasn’t his first time to perform the act. In January, using 600 balloons he traveled for four hours rising to a height of 17,390 foot before landing safely in a nearby village.
His most recent voyage was a much more ambitious attempt. The spiritual leader aimed to stay in the air for 20 hours supported by his 1,000 balloons.
Rain and winds in the area carried him off course and he lost contact with officials after eight hours.
After searches, a huge cluster of the colorful inflated toys were found floating off the Brazilian coast, but the man who had used them to lift off was nowhere to be seen.
Searchers are still hopeful he will still be found. di Carli has survival training experience and was equipped with energy bars, water, a GPS system and satellite phone with him.
When images of balloons and disaster are brought to mind, you can’t help but think about the Hindenburg and other zeppelins.
Tags: balloons, priest, Brazil, world record, missing, helium