Balloon boy dad 'wanted to prepare for apocalypse'

Published: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:16:11

The US father accused of being responsible for the much-publicised balloon boy hoax staged the publicity stunt because he fears an imminent apocalypse, it has been claimed. Robert Thomas, who formerly worked as a researcher for amateur scientist Richard Heene, has suggested that Mr Heene faked the disappearance of his son in order to raise money before a suspected cataclysm in 2012. The Heene family hit the headlines in recent weeks after claiming their youngest child Falcon had been accidentally carried away in an experimental weather balloon.

Speaking to police investigating the case, Mr Thomas claimed Mr Heene did so in the hope of achieving fame, allowing him to prepare for the end of the world. Mr Thomas's lawyer said: "He wanted to make money quickly, become rich enough to build a bunker or something underground, where he can be safe from the sun exploding." The 2012 apocalypse theory is based on predictions made by the Mayans and is soon to be the focus of a new blockbuster movie from Independence Day director Roland Emmerich.

What's the strangest hoax you've ever encountered?

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