Falcon and the flyaway balloon

IT'S A HOAX: Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden speaks at a news conference in Colorado where he announced that reports that a six-year-old boy was believed to be in a flying saucer-like helium balloon hurtling away from his home, was a publicity stunt arranged by the boy's parents.

WINGS CLIPPED: Six-year-old Falcon Heene sits cross-legged on the roof of his family's van outside his home in Fort Collins, Colorado after the little boy was said to have been found hiding in a box in a space above his garage.

BALLOON BOY: Falcoln sparked worldwide fears as television viewers watched live as the air balloon he was thought to be inside flew wildly across Colorado.

LITTLE MONKEY: Falcon Heene shows where his family claimed he hid.

FALCON HEENE: The youngster was said to have hid in a cardboard box above his family's garage after being scolded by his father.

FAMILY'S RELIEF: The balloon Falcon was thought to be aboard, had been constructed by his father Richard, who enjoys storm chasing.

Falcon Heene (centre) with his brothers Ryo (left), Brad (right) and mother and father Richard.

Falcon Heene, in two YouTube videos.

Police examine a compartment on the bottom of the small homemade helium after it landed in Colorado.

The home-made balloon seen over Colorado, near Fort Collins.

Screengrab of a police officer chasing the small homemade helium balloon as it landed in Colorado.

The homemade balloon resembled a flying saucer as it drifted across the Colorado skies.

The homemade helium balloon floated thousands of feet into the air above Colorado, thought to have six-year-old Falcon Heene inside.