A six-year-old boy who was thought to have floated off in a homemade hot-air balloon in the US state of Colorado has been found alive and well.
Falcon Heene was found hiding inside a cardboard box in his family home's garage, hours after police discovered the craft to be empty when it crashed on Thursday.
Jim Alderman, the Larimer County sheriff, turned to reporters during a news conference and said "he's at the house".
Alderman said an investigator had seen the boy and that he was fine.
Balloon chase
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| The balloon flew for more than 80km before landing in a Colorado field [Reuters] |
Cathy Davis, a Larimer County sheriff's department spokeswoman, said earlier that the boy and his brother were playing outside when the older boy saw the younger one go into a compartment at the bottom of the balloon before it broke loose from its tether.
But Alderman later said that Falcon had been inside the garage while the balloon was chased by the local authorities and the media throughout the course of its two-hour, 80km, flight.
The balloon was capable of flying to an altitude of about 3,000 metres, a height where oxygen is in short supply.
Helicopters followed the silver balloon, which was reportedly made by the boy's father.
The balloon's basket was enclosed, making it difficult to ascertain whether anyone was trapped inside.