Balloon flight priest lost

This is the moment Father Adelir Antonia de Carli left earth for a heavenly ascent.

The 42-year-old Roman Catholic priest wanted to break the record for the most hours flying with helium balloons - currently 19 hours.

But freak winds took him out to sea and he hasn't been seen since.

Speaking before the flight, a little rain wasn't going to put him off.

SOUNDBITE: Catholic Priest Adelir de Carli, saying (Portuguese):

"In ten minutes it'll pass (rain) and we'll fly in good weather."

de Carli had intended to fly from the Brazilian port of Paranagua to Dourados to raise money for a rest stop for local truckers.

The local Police Captain was the last person to speak to the priest.

SOUNDBITE: Police Captain Carlos Henrique Coelho, saying (Portuguese):

"His last words were: please come save me, send me a rescue."

Authorities say de Carli's seat for the flight could be used as a float and there were several islands in the region where he could land.

But Marine Captain Lopes Vianna said time is running out.

SOUNDBITE: Santa Catarina State Marine Captain Lopes Vianna, saying (Portuguese):

"As more time goes by, the searching area increases and it becomes more difficult to find the priest, especially alive."

Meanwhile the search continues for Father de Carli, but so far only a handfull of balloons have been found washed ashore.

Hayley Platt Reuters.

heavenly - of or relating to the sky
put off

1.a. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.

b. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.

washed - wet as from washing
ashore Adverb towards or on land