Man brings Up film to life

Have you ever seen the film Up?

It's the touching tale of a 78-year-old who attaches loads of balloons to his house and floats off on an adventure to South America. 

Now life is imitating art as a man has created a 7ft lifeboat with helium balloons that he is hoping to use to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Jonathan Trappe is looking to make it across the stretch of water – which is a distance of around 2,500 miles – with 365 helium balloons attached to a specially-adapted building.

Mr Trappe has already invested $170,000 (£109,000) in the project as he seeks to fulfil a lifelong ambition.

"It's about living an interesting life – for me as the pilot and those watching," he added.

Mr Trappe is already in the record books, as he is the first person to fly across the English Channel using cluster balloons.

Posted by Mark Wilkins