Father Adelir Antonio de Carli, a courageous priest, aimed to raise funds for charity by fastening himself to 1,000 balloons. Unfortunately, his bold venture turned tragic when he floated away and never returned. In April 2008, Father De Carli conceived the unique idea of tethering himself to helium-filled balloons to support the construction of a chapel for truck drivers in his parish along the highway.
Setting off from Paranagua, a coastal city in Brazil, Father De Carli donned safety gear including a helmet, thermal flight suit, waterproof attire, and a parachute. His mission had a dual purpose – breaking the world record for the longest balloon flight time and collecting donations for his cause. With his skydiving expertise and survival skills, Father De Carli, who had successfully undertaken a similar feat earlier in the year using 600 balloons, seemed well-prepared for the challenge.
Equipped with a GPS tracker and radio for communication with air traffic control, Father De Carli ascended into the sky. However, after eight hours, he disappeared without a trace. Despite extensive search efforts by rescue teams and aircraft, the priest remained missing until balloons were spotted in the sea near his last known position, two days post his airborne charity event.
Months later, in July, his body was discovered by two tugboat workers at sea, and DNA tests confirmed his identity. Reports indicated that Father De Carli struggled with his GPS device and relayed messages about feeling cold and losing altitude before contact was lost. Fire Chief Johnny Coelhos expressed little hope for his survival given the circumstances and equipment involved.
Following the confirmation of his death, Father De Carli’s brother expressed relief at the prospect of a proper burial service for the priest.