When Party Balloons are Not the Answer

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — Hopes for finding a priest who disappeared after soaring into the air with hundreds of colorful balloons are growing slimmer, rescue officials said Wednesday.

Roman Catholic Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli has been missing since Sunday, when he lifted off from the port city of Paranagua wearing a helmet, an aluminum thermal flight suit, waterproof coveralls and a parachute. He was seeking to break a record for the longest time in-flight with helium-filled party balloons.

Rescuers in boats, planes and helicopters continued to search off Brazil's southern coast, near where a cluster of yellow, orange, pink and white balloons was found floating in the Atlantic close to where de Carli's was when he last made contact.

"It is getting harder to hold on to our optimism," said Johnny Coelho, commander of the Penha Fire Department, which is searching for the priest. "The possibilities of finding him alive are beginning to get smaller and smaller as each day passes."