6 year old floats away in balloon

[SteelBlue]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/colorado.boy.balloon/index.html

It's on every news channel right now. He's in a homemade giant helium balloon. I'm stressed just thinking about it. He's at 10,000 feet according to one of my co-workers.

[UtahDan]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/col...oon/index.html

It's on every news channel right now. He's in a homemade giant helium balloon. I'm stressed just thinking about it. He's at 10,000 feet according to one of my co-workers.

Oh man, this fills me with anxiety too. What goes through people's minds?

[beelzebabette]

He's at 10,000 feet according to one of my co-workers.

At what altitude do you have to worry about lack of oxygen & temperature? Is there a risk this balloon will pop if it gets high enough?

[SteelBlue]

I have all kinds of ridiculous anxieties about my children. I can't imagine what this kid's parents are going through watching this live. Man I hope this has a happy ending.

[dabrockster]

I cannot fathom the feeling of scaredness and fear running through this little boys mind.. I can already envision him curled up at the bottom of the basket..


What steps are being taken to get to him???

[Fiyero]

I've been watching this for the past 30 minutes. One expert thinks he's fallen out because of how easily the wind keeps shifting it, as though there's no weight in the basket whatsoever.

Apparently it's flown over 60 miles, from Fort Collins to south of Denver. And been fluxuating between 1000 and 8500 feet.

[DU Ute]

I cannot fathom the feeling of scaredness and fear running through this little boys mind.. I can already envision him curled up at the bottom of the basket..


What steps are being taken to get to him???

I don't know if there is a basket, looks like a strange balloon. I wonder if that will be better or worse for the boy's safety.

[UtahDan]

Reminds me of the failed efforts to catch the Mars Genesis spacecraft. Though they weren't successful, the technology should work here. How high up can helicopters go?

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=14000

[SteelBlue]

What steps are being taken to get to him???

One chopper in the air following it and a Blackhawk on the way. Nobody on CNN has been able to speculate about what a possible rescue would entail. It's a strangely shaped balloon that may not lend itself well to a rescue. Looks like a chef's hat.

[Fiyero]

What's the elevation of Fort Collins, +8500 feet? In terms of breathable air, I mean.

[landpoke]

Apparently it's down.

[landpoke]

No word on the boy yet.

[SteelBlue]

Balloon has touched down. They seem to be trying to find a way in. It touched down softly.

[Donuthole]

Landed pretty softly, but they are taking their sweet time opening it.

[Donuthole]

Based on the reactions of the crew at the balloon, it doesn't appear that the boy is inside the balloon.