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Balloon boy father denies TV fake Balloon boy father denies TV fake
(about 6 hours later)
The father of a boy thought to have been carried away by a helium balloon before being found at home has denied that the incident was a media stunt. The father of a boy thought to have been carried away by a helium balloon before being found at home has repeated denials that the incident was a hoax.
Richard Heene said he was "appalled" at suggestions the disappearance of his son Falcon, six, may have been staged. Richard Heene told several US TV networks that the disappearance of his son Falcon, six, was not staged.
Speaking live on CNN, Falcon had said he heard his family searching for him but stayed quiet because his parents "said that we did this for a show". Falcon aroused suspicions by saying live on air he heard people calling his name but stayed quiet as his parents "said that we did this for a show".
Richard Heene and his wife previously appeared on reality TV show Wife Swap.Richard Heene and his wife previously appeared on reality TV show Wife Swap.
TV network ABC described them as a "storm-chasing, science-obsessed family".TV network ABC described them as a "storm-chasing, science-obsessed family".
The balloon drama was also played out on TV, with US networks devoting their airtime to live footage of the balloon over Colorado. Thursday's balloon drama was itself played out on TV, with US networks devoting their airtime to live footage of the balloon over Colorado.
The balloon landed in fields and was surrounded by rescue vehicles after a two-hour flight.The balloon landed in fields and was surrounded by rescue vehicles after a two-hour flight.
But Larimer County sheriff Jim Alderden then announced that the boy had been found alive and well in a box in the attic of his family's house.But Larimer County sheriff Jim Alderden then announced that the boy had been found alive and well in a box in the attic of his family's house.
Boy 'confused'Boy 'confused'
The news delighted both the Heenes and the TV networks, startled by news that the six-year-old was in fact safe and well. The news delighted both the Heenes and the TV networks.
We intend to go back and further ask the family to co-operate with our investigation Jim AlderdenLarimer County sherriff I'm starting to get a little ticked off. What have I got to gain out of this? Richard HeeneFather of 'balloon boy' Falcon Heene
However, questions over the family's motivation later emerged during a CNN interview.However, questions over the family's motivation later emerged during a CNN interview.
Mr Heene was asked by an interviewer to ask his son why he had not emerged from his hiding place when he heard his parents calling out his name.Mr Heene was asked by an interviewer to ask his son why he had not emerged from his hiding place when he heard his parents calling out his name.
Speaking hesitantly at first, Falcon answered: "You had said that we did this for a show."Speaking hesitantly at first, Falcon answered: "You had said that we did this for a show."
Pressed on what his son might have meant, Mr Heene struggled for an answer, saying that his son must have been confused by the family's previous appearance on Wife Swap. In spite of quick denials from his father, speculation that the Heenes had faked the entire incident persisted into Friday, when the family appeared on more US TV talk shows.
And in a bizarre twist, Falcon himself became ill while his father was asked direct questions about whether or not they had staged an elaborate hoax.
During one interview on NBC's Today show, Falcon vomited live on air as Mr Heene sought to explain his son's comments.
He was also heard being ill off camera during an ABC interview while his father answered the same questions.
Mr Heene battled on while his son was being sick, telling his NBC interviewer there was "absolutely" no hoax.
Heene family address reporters outside their home
"Now I'm starting to get a little ticked off," he said. Insisting that he had nothing to sell and no motivation to force his son into the limelight, he asked: "What have I got to gain out of this?"
Pressed on what his son might have meant, Mr Heene struggled for an answer on CNN on Thursday night, saying that his son must have been confused by the family's previous appearance on Wife Swap.
In a later segment of the interview Mr Heene avoided a request to ask Falcon once again what he meant by his comment, and instead rounded on his questioner.In a later segment of the interview Mr Heene avoided a request to ask Falcon once again what he meant by his comment, and instead rounded on his questioner.
"I'm kind of appalled after all the feelings that I went through, up and down, that you guys are trying to suggest something else," he said."I'm kind of appalled after all the feelings that I went through, up and down, that you guys are trying to suggest something else," he said.
Falcon Heene said he hid in the attic because he was scared Police official Jim Alderden said his officers had been convinced throughout Thursday that they had been dealing with a genuine situation.
Police official Jim Alderden said his officers had been convinced throughout the day that they had been dealing with a genuine situation.
However, he conceded, the CNN interview "raised some questions".However, he conceded, the CNN interview "raised some questions".
"We intend to go back and further ask the family to co-operate with our investigation through answering more questions and resolve this issue," he told the Associated Press."We intend to go back and further ask the family to co-operate with our investigation through answering more questions and resolve this issue," he told the Associated Press.
Consistent story
Earlier, the balloon landed in fields and was surrounded by rescue vehicles after a two-hour flight.
Mr Alderden then announced that the boy had been found alive and well in a box in the attic of his family's house.
He said the house had been searched twice, but the search had obviously not been thorough enough. He also said that police had questioned Falcon's brother repeatedly after he said he saw him in the balloon.
"What he said was that he saw his brother climb into that apparatus and he was very adamant, they interviewed him multiple times and that was his consistent story," Mr Alderden said.
Heene family address reporters outside their home
"I was in the attic and he scared me because he yelled at me," Falcon said. "That's why I went in the attic."
Asked what he thought when the balloon had landed with no sign of his son, Richard Heene said: "The only thing I could think of was that he had fallen out."
The silver balloon, apparently made by the boy's father, reportedly reached heights of 7,000ft (2km).
It was floating about 40 miles north of Denver before it came down.