Adelir Antonio de Carli

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Adelir Antonio de Carli is a Brazilian catholic priest from São Cristóvão famous for going missing during an attempt at cluster ballooning on April 20, 2008. Carli, an experienced skydiver,^[1] undertook the exercise in order to raise money to fund a spiritual rest area for truck drivers in the Paraná port city of Paranaguá. After taking off in a chair attached to 1000 balloons, Carli at one point reached an altitude of 6000 meters before losing contact with authorities. Pieces of balloon were later reported floating in the sea off the coast.^[2]

Carli's flight equipment included a parachute, helmet, water-proof coveralls, GPS tracking, mobile phone, satellite phone, flotation device chair, aluminum thermal flight suit, and at least five days of food and drinking water. His training for the stunt included jungle survival and mountain climbing courses, but apparently did not include instruction on use of his GPS - a telephone call he made during the flight included statements made by him in which he states that if someone could just explain how to use his GPS he could relay his position to rescuers. Two days after the flight, a Penha (SC) Fire Department commander familiar with the situation put the missing priest's chances of still being alive at 80%.^[3] However, the Brazilian Navy called off the ocean search on April 29, saying the chances of finding de Carli alive in the ocean were "very remote".^[4]