# Scary stuff: the boy in the balloon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940 "2009-10-15T18:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/1 "2009-10-15T18:58:24Z")
Just seen on the TV in the kitchen, on CNN: Boy Floats Away In Balloon [http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21306839/detail.html](http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21306839/detail.html) A six-year-old boy crawls into this weather-balloon type thing him and his dad were working on, and the balloon has floated away. It looks like a UFO! People are tracking the balloon from the ground, and it’s several thousands of feet up in the air. No plan yet as to how to get him down safely. Live video at the link. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/2 "2009-10-15T19:00:46Z")
I kinda doubt he’s going to survive. Scary. I hope he does. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/3 "2009-10-15T19:03:05Z")
Doesn’t sound like a good scenario for the kid. Hope he comes down okay. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/4 "2009-10-15T19:05:19Z")
This is obviously a definition of the word ‘hero’ I wasn’t previously aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/5 "2009-10-15T19:07:32Z")
Well, hero’s probably not the best word, but the kid was fearless, and he and his dad built a pretty cool balloon. I am working under the assumption that he’ll land safely somehow. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/6 "2009-10-15T19:09:37Z")
A reporter on the CNN live feed was saying that it’s very cold up there (~7000 ft). I’m scared about the boy’s exposure times. Fingers crossed that he gets back to earth safely! ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/7 "2009-10-15T19:09:40Z")
Very scary. I bet he’s cold and terrified. This is not _Up!_ people. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/8 "2009-10-15T19:10:40Z")
This is scary as hell and I feel sick to my stomach watching this footage. The poor kid must be so scared. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/9 "2009-10-15T19:14:15Z")
God, I’m horrified by this…please get home safe, little boy! ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/10 "2009-10-15T19:16:44Z")
He’s the son of storm chaser [Richard Heene](http://www.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_6530596). > [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > Well, hero’s probably not the best word, but the kid was fearless, and he and his dad built a pretty cool balloon. I am working under the assumption that he’ll land safely somehow. We don’t know the that the child meant to go up on purpose – I’d guess that it was an accident, and that he’s pretty well terrified right now. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/11 "2009-10-15T19:17:22Z")
I hope for the best and fear for the worst. Time for the religious among us to pray for his safety. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/12 "2009-10-15T19:19:39Z")
They’re saying he’s estimated to be 8,000 feet up, over Colorado… What is the oxygen like that far up in that area. Not good, right? Must be cold too. Watching live footage - the balloon is losing a lot of helium right now. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/13 "2009-10-15T19:21:43Z")
Ya’ll should try and find the episode of wife swap with this kid in it. This family is a fucking trip. > [@](#): > > 7News confirmed the boy is the son of Richard and Naomi Heene appeared on an episode of ABC’s “Wife Swap.” They are storm chasers and live in a very crazy environment. They were matched with a more uptight family. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/14 "2009-10-15T19:22:22Z")
[Linky](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/). That kid is in soooooooo much trouble. slee ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/15 "2009-10-15T19:24:00Z")
How the hell are they going to get him down? And what is fueling that thing? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/16 "2009-10-15T19:24:29Z")
An expert on the news said that by the way the balloon is floating, it looks like there is no weight in it. . . so he may have fallen out already. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/17 "2009-10-15T19:25:42Z")
I just emailed this to my sister…that is _so_ something my brother (childhood nickname: S&D\*) would have done at that age. I’m having the same reaction to this story as I do every time I see one of those internet videos of spectacular skateboard crashes - gotta laugh at the situation as you’re wondering if the damn fool kid is all right. Search and destroy ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/18 "2009-10-15T19:25:44Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Ya’ll should try and find the episode of wife swap with this kid in it. This family is a fucking trip. > > > [@](#): > > > > Quote: > > 7News confirmed the boy is the son of Richard and Naomi Heene appeared on an episode of ABC’s “Wife Swap.” Here’s a clip: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWGojr76Jw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWGojr76Jw). ETA: The boy’s mother is named Mayumi. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/19 "2009-10-15T19:26:13Z")
I can’t get sound at work. Are these pics I’m watching live? That balloon is going damn fast ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940/20 "2009-10-15T19:26:38Z")
Well, the outlook is starting to look grim. Maybe a passing mod could change the title of the thread to remove the “my new hero” beginning. At first glance I thought it looked like a fun adventure but not so much any more. If someone could use a “report his post” on the OP and ask for the thread title to be changed I would be most appreciative. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-the-boy-in-the-balloon/513940.md?page=2)