Follow That Balloon!

May 27th, 2008

From the Toronto Globe and Mail:

French adventurer Michel Fournier’s quest to set a world skydiving record may have come to an end after his $200,000 helium balloon escaped and floated into space without him attached on Tuesday.

Fournier, who has attempted the record three times, experienced balloon failure in 2002 and 2003. To date, the former French paratrooper has spent about $13 million on his quest, selling his house and antique gun collection in the process. He also cashed in his savings.

In a Globe and Mail podcast, reporter Peter Cheney was asked about the balloon’s whereabouts.

“It’s somewhere above Saskatchewan … probably approaching the altitude he wanted to set his record at. It would climb to about 130,000 feet.” Fournier only has one balloon, “so that’s it for this year,” said Cheney.

A press conference is scheduled for later today. The Famous Sparrow editors express our condolences to Mr. Fournier.