Balloon Boy Lost And Found
Posted on 17 October 2009 by Stenberg-Tendys W.L. in Society
Millions of viewers were glued to their computer watching live updates on the flying-saucer-shaped-helium balloon, that was purportedly carrying a young Colorado boy, nicknamed ‘Balloon Boy’.
“We were working on an experimental craft. A low altitude-vehicle for people to pull out of their garages and hove over traffic for about 50 – 100 feet,” said Richard Heene, Falcon’s father.
It was reported that six-year-old Falcon was on board the run-away balloon, being carried by high winds on to the plains of Colorado. Falcon Heene, of Fort Collins, was videoed climbing into the utility compartment underneath the balloon.
Police were alerted. A Kiowa helicopter was launched out of Buckley Air Force Base. A Black Hawk helicopter was up in the air. That was a cost of $14,500. The sheriff’s office consulted with different agencies, including military personnel, in an attempt to bring the errant balloon to heel. Fire departments, as well as search and rescue people were all involved, with 60 -80 people working on the problem, in Larimer County alone. Personnel from Weld and Adams County were also in on the chase.
Millions across America, courtesy of the social network Twitter, viewed the saga being played out live, as the runaway balloon flew on, at around 25 miles per hour. US networks devoted airtime for live coverage of the chase.
When a photograph began circulating, apparently showing something falling from the silver saucer balloon, people became frantic. Had the boy fallen out of the balloon?
Finally the balloon ran out of helium and landed. But no boy was to be found.
Falcon’s mother was watching the search on television, worried sick about her son. Two hours elapsed as the frantic search for Falcon continued.
All of a sudden her son was standing in front of her. The boy was safe and sound, having hidden in a box in his parent’s attic.
What the parents did not know was that after being videoed climbing in, Falcon had also climbed out from the balloon again. When his father yelled at him, Falcon ran away and hid, fearing he was in trouble.
The experimental balloon had been built by Falcon’s parents who are avid storm chasers. The family also appeared on the ABC’s reality TV show ‘Wife Swap’.
Making the most of a weird situation, young Falcon was seen on ‘Larry King Live’, claiming the entire incident had been a publicity stunt. “We did it for the show”, said the 6 year old.
Later in the day a former video intern for the boy’s father, attempted to prove that the entire episode had been fabricated for a TV show.
A similar situation erupted in 1938 when a themed radio drama, ‘War of the Worlds’, was mistaken for an emergency broadcast. Hundreds fled their homes in New York and Philadelphia metro areas, believing the broadcast had been for real.
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This post was mentioned on Friendfeed by Wendy StenbergTendys: Lost and found is the new name for 6 year old, balloon boy Falcon Heene, as a three county search and rescue mission came to a successful conclusion….