Boy Thought Missing in Balloon Found Alive At Home
Credit: ABC.com
The six-year-old boy who many feared was trapped in a helium balloon that soared about 60 miles has been found alive, CNN reports.
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After several ground and air searches, Falcon Heene was found hiding in a box in the attic of his family's home in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Thursday, according to authorities.
The Heene family -- which appeared in the 100th episode of ABC's Wife Swap -- was constructing an experimental 20-foot helium balloon attached to their home earlier today, and it was initially believed that young Falcon boarded the "flying saucer," which is capable of ascending to about 10,000 feet. (A sibling said he saw Falcon get into the balloon craft Thursday morning.)
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The balloon, which soared 7,000 feet over eastern Colorado for nearly two hours, made a soft landing at 1:35 p.m. EST, and when Falcon was not found in the balloon, searches continued.
"At this point, we are thinking that he did not fall out of the balloon and is somewhere on the ground," a Larimer County spokeswoman told CNN before he was found. "I'm very confident we will find him. I think it's a matter of him being a little scared."
Tell Us What You Think
12What is wrong with you people? You think the little boy is in on it too? What kind of publicity is their balloon going to give them? Are you joking? You think they called news stations and told their son to go hide in a box in the attic for hours on end? No, they called for help because they thought their son was in the balloon, since their other son told them that he thought he saw him climb in. I can't imagine the terror they must've gone through. And I thought I was cynical.
They wanted attention called upon them so that they could get their reality show that centers around their storm chasing and wild antics. Knowing how our crazy our culture is they will probably get one. (Kardashians, Jon and Kate, Little People) We are truly a distured nation.
A hoax for sure, but they may not be able to prove it, cost their area a small fortune.
I remember the show, they are whacked out of it, especially her, she acts 12. I think this was a hoax, and they need to be punished, it cost the county money for their crap.
The parents are bizarrely immature. Thought maybe they were on drugs after seeing Wife Swap. CPS should intervene.
Oh my gosh, how ridiculous. What kind of parents don't know where their own child is? How pathetic that this kid was in the HOUSE and money/time/media was wasted on coverage for this. I think it was a ploy to get their flying contraption some media attention.
The moment I saw the picture of this family on CNN, I knew something fishy was happening... Both parents are nuts! I saw that episode on Wife Swap. To be honest, I think this was done on purpose... for the attention... as sick as it may sound... maybe hoping for another reality show??? It's a shame that so many resources were utilized for nothing, when they could've been used to help somebody in real need... Agree with 7:38
These parents are stupid. 1-Don't leave a flying contraption in the backyard where kids play. 2-Check your house before calling the authorities.
These people are sickos! I saw them on wife swap.. How are these kinds of families even barely functional?!?! Poor kids
how much of tax dollars were paid for this "joke"
The family needs to pay back the people involved searching for the boy. The family may had wanted attention - who's to say - we were not there.
Falcon is a cutie. His parents shouldn't leave such a contraption in the backyard! It's nearly the same as leaving a jet in the backyard gassed up and ready to go.