This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7360416.stm

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Priest missing on balloon flight 'Flying' priest's balloons found
(40 minutes later)
A Roman Catholic priest who used 1,000 helium balloons to try to break a flying record has gone missing off the southern coast of Brazil. Search crews in Brazil have found a bundle of balloons off the coast that were being used by a priest who went missing trying to set a flight record.
Father Adelir de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday, equipped with a parachute, thermal suit, satellite phone and a GPS device. Father Adelir de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday strapped to 1,000 helium balloons.
A sea and air rescue operation is under way after he lost contact with port authority officials late on Sunday. Although equipped with flotation equipment, a satellite phone and GPS, contact was lost with him late on Sunday after he was blown off course.
He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.
Father Carli was hoping to raise money to fund a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, one of Brazil's major ports for agricultural products. He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products.
As well as his GPS and satellite phone, he was equipped with a buoyant chair. He is also an experienced skydiver. Rescue hopes
Father Carli's bundle of brightly-coloured balloons was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean off Santa Catarina state, near the point where he last made contact with authorities on the ground.
Rescue officials were holding out hopes he would still be found alive.
He was wearing a helmet, parachute, thermal flight suit, waterproof coveralls and a buoyant chair. He is also an experienced skydiver.
"Given his physical condition and the equipment he was carrying, I would say there is 80% chance that he is still alive," said Johnny Coelho, chief of the Penha Fire Department.
Father Carli, a Roman Catholic priest, was carrying enough food and water for five days and there was a chance he was still drifting in the ocean or had been washed ashore on a remote section of the coast, said Mr Coelho.
'Losing height''Losing height'
In a phone interview with Brazilian TV channel Globo on Sunday, he said he was having difficulty operating his GPS device, and was "very cold, but fine".In a phone interview with Brazilian TV channel Globo on Sunday, he said he was having difficulty operating his GPS device, and was "very cold, but fine".
He was said to have reached an altitude of 20,000ft (6,000m), then descended to about 8,200ft for his planned flight to the city of Dourados.He was said to have reached an altitude of 20,000ft (6,000m), then descended to about 8,200ft for his planned flight to the city of Dourados.
But he was blown off course by winds and when last contacted was floating several miles off the coast.But he was blown off course by winds and when last contacted was floating several miles off the coast.
Before losing contact, he said he had to land in the sea as he was "losing height".Before losing contact, he said he had to land in the sea as he was "losing height".
Planes and helicopters of the Brazilian air force as well as boats of the Brazilian navy are searching off the coast of Santa Catarina state, where pieces of balloons were found on a beach.
"We are absolutely confident he will be found alive and well, floating somewhere in the ocean," parish treasurer Denise Gallas told the Associated Press.
"He knew what he was doing and was fully prepared for any kind of mishap."
In January, the priest used the same mode of transport to fly over 110km (70 miles) in four hours between Parana and the nearby Argentine city of San Antonio.In January, the priest used the same mode of transport to fly over 110km (70 miles) in four hours between Parana and the nearby Argentine city of San Antonio.