In 1986, Cleveland was attacked... balls

In 1986, Cleveland, Ohio, proved that the balloons that we all consider a symbol of the holidays and Christmas can become a terrible proof of the validity of the expression "enough is enough".

Photographer Tom Sheridan was nearby and filmed on camera for this event, which has led to chaos. Organization United Way is a charity, and the purpose of this event was to raise money, but in the end the issue of 1.5 million colorful balloons over the city has led to the fact that the cleaning was spent than collected.

Charitable organization United Way wanted to set the record for the number of balloons released simultaneously, — PR-move, like many world records. Numerous volunteers filled 1.5 million balloons with helium during the event, Balloonfest’86.

All of this colorful splendor of the cost of United Way is $ 500 thousand.

That day predicted rain, so the organizers decided to release the balls early in the morning. The start was great. On the morning of 27 September, 1.5 million balloons rose majestically to the sky.

Colorful spectacle in the sky shocked local residents and tourists. Colorful balloons filled the sky over Cleveland, and for some time as if rainbow broke into hundreds of thousands of balls. It was like a huge success. And then disaster struck...

When the rain went, the balls were wet, but did not start to burst and fall to the ground. In the end, they covered the entire surface of lake Erie.

At that moment there was a coast guard search for two fishermen whose boat capsized. Later these people were found dead in the waters of the lake. Because closed almost the entire surface of the lake balls find the head of the person who is trying to stay on the surface, it was almost impossible.

Balls also scared a few expensive race horses which have wounded each other, making them the owners sued the organization United Way to court. The case, incidentally, they won.

One of the widows of the drowned on lake Erie fishermen suing the "United way" at $3.2 million, and, as horse owners, ultimately received the money.

Although latex balloons — product is biodegradable, they have put a lot of rustling around the region, before they decompose.

So attempt to arrange a Grand spectacle and to beat the record turned into a disaster, resulting in two deaths, millions in legal claims and the destructive impact on the environment.