The Doomed Brazilian Priest Who Thought He Could Traverse the Atlantic With 1,000 Helium Balloons

Pixar's blockbuster movie Up is in equal parts ridiculous and moving. But as an animated children's flick, we are more than willing to suspend belief and go on a journey with an elderly man, a dog, a boy, and his helium balloon-powered flying house. But helium balloons aren't actually a realistic propulsion method for long-distance flight, are they? Right?

Well back on April 20th of 2008, the Brazilian Catholic priest Father Adelir Antonio de Carli thought they were, and decided to attempt a record-breaking balloon-powered trip across South America as a fundraising stunt to raise money for spiritual truck driver rest stops.

Strapped into a chair attached to 1,000 helium balloons, the human rights advocate was fitted with "a parachute, helmet, waterproof coveralls, GPS device, mobile phone, satellite phone, flotation device chair, aluminum thermal flight suit, and at least five days of food and drinking water," according to Wikipedia. De Carli was also an experienced skydiver, and had completed a successful 600 balloon, 16-mile test flight three months prior. But while he had physically trained for his expedition, he reportedly neglected to practice using his GPS navigation device. 

Less than a day into his trip, the priest was blown over the Atlantic Ocean and called authorities to help him determine his position. It was the last contact he would make with anyone before his body washed ashore in July of 2008. 

At least the truck drivers got their rest stops.