Authorities in the US have confirmed that a 6-year-old boy who reportedly climbed into his father's home-made helium weather balloon before it broke away from its moorings and floated away has been found hiding at home.
The balloon, pursued by emergency services, helicopters and television crews, travelled some 60 miles over a period of two hours.
When it fell to earth it was found to be empty and amid fears that the boy, named as Falcon Heene, had fallen out, a land search immediately got underway.
Within an hour Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden reported that the 6-year-old boy has been found alive at his home. "He was found in a box in the attic above the garage," the sheriff said.
He said he did not think the boy's parents knew he was in the attic: "They thought he was missing".
Rescue crews had rushed to the scene after being told the boy had climbed inside the balloon before it became untethered at his family's home in Fort Collins.
The craft was followed for several miles by TV helicopters and the drama was broadcast live across the world.
The Denver Postnewspaper reported that the boy's father, Richard Heene, a storm chaser and amateur scientist, had built the balloon.