Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Nearer, my God to thee

Here is a Darwin Award nominee . . .

Brazil priest carried aloft by balloons missing

SAO PAULO, Brazil - A Roman Catholic priest who floated off under hundreds of helium party balloons was missing Monday off the southern coast of Brazil.

Rescuers in helicopters and small fishing boats were searching off the coast of Santa Catarina state, where pieces of balloons were found.

Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday afternoon, wearing a helmet, thermal suit and a parachute.

He was reported missing about eight hours later after losing contact with port authority officials, according to the treasurer of his Sao Cristovao parish, Denise Gallas.

Gallas said by telephone that the priest wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons to raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, Brazil’s second-largest port for agricultural products.

Some American adventurers have used helium balloons to emulate Larry Walters — who in 1982 rose three miles above Los Angeles in a lawn chair lifted by balloons.

A video of Carli posted on the G1 Web site of Globo TV showed the smiling 41-year-old priest slipping into a flight suit, being strapped to a seat attached to a huge column green, red, white and yellow balloons, and soaring into the air to the cheers of a crowd.

I know ya’ll have fun with this one. :lol:

I can just imagine a flock of birds all pecking at the balloons while the priest yells “Meu deus! Meu deus!” and not getting an answer as he plunges to the earth below.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm ... do you remember the song "99 loft balloons" (or something like that) from a german band - I want to say in the 80's or so. I immediately thought of that song when I read that story - why, I have no idea! lol

Maybe the devil sent a stray lightning bolt to burst his bubble - err .. balloons?

Sadly, I'm sure they will find it about 20 or so miles off course - and of course, they will claim its a miracle that he's alive.
(where's the rolling eyes smiley when ya need one?)

Spirula said...

spiritual rest-stop for truckers

Huh? The RC seems to have gotten rather esoteric with their charity. But, you know, it's not like there are a lot of impoverished people in Brazil.

(Have family that were missionaries *gak*gak* in Sao Paulo).

Greg,

Ah, yes Nena

Stardust said...

Greg, I SO have to find that video! I do remember it. I must find it!

Anonymous said...

Actually Spirula posted the link above. How COULD I have forgotten the group Nena? lol

They actually made an english version of that song. And someone, bless their hearts, made a video of it HERE

Stardust said...

OOpsie sorry Spirula...SENILITY. My bad! LOL...Thanks greg for pointing out my doofus oversight...

Spirula, I added that vid to the GIFS thread on this story. It makes the perfect theme song.

Imagine it playing as priest floats away as the red balloon in the video fades into blackness.