A Catholic priest's ambitious plan to raise money for his parish by flying with 1,000 helium balloons ended in tragedy when he vanished into the sky, his body discovered months later.
A Daring Fundraising Mission
In April 2008, Father Adelir Antonio de Carli, a 41-year-old priest from Brazil, embarked on a perilous journey from the port city of Paranagua. His goal was twofold: to break the 19-hour world record for the longest balloon flight and to raise significant funds for a chapel for lorry drivers.
This was not his first attempt. Just months earlier, in January, he had successfully completed a four-hour flight using 600 balloons, reaching an altitude of 17,390 feet. For his second, more ambitious attempt, he was equipped with a helmet, a thermal flight suit, waterproof clothing, and a parachute. Being an experienced skydiver, he also carried a GPS tracker and a radio to maintain contact with air traffic control.
The Fatal Flight and Disappearance
The adventure began with hope, but after approximately eight hours in the air, contact with Father de Carli was lost. Reports indicate he experienced difficulties with his GPS device. In one of his final communications, he relayed that he felt "very cold, but fine", before later stating he was "losing height" and had veered off course.
It was estimated he had reached an altitude of 20,000 feet before beginning his descent. A large-scale search operation was launched, but the priest remained missing. Two days later, multicoloured balloons were spotted in the sea near his last known location, offering a grim clue to his fate.
The Grim Discovery and Aftermath
The mystery was finally solved in July 2008, months after his disappearance. Tugboat workers discovered a body at sea, which was later confirmed through DNA testing to be that of the missing priest.
Macae's police chief, Daniel Bandeira, stated: "We were almost certain that it was the priest due to various elements, such as the clothes and material used in the balloon trip. The DNA only confirmed our suspicions." Upon the confirmation, his brother, Moacir de Carli, expressed a sombre relief, saying, "Now we can have a respectable burial service."
Despite his experience and survival gear, the extreme conditions and equipment failure turned a charitable dream into a devastating tragedy.
