I know by this statement that you’ve never been introduced to my youngest son. He would so have been on/in a balloon. Especially one that actually rose up. When he was 8 he was devastated that he couldn’t go on a roller coaster (height). My older son wouldn’t go near them, the youngest drank milk by the gallon for a year hoping he’d be tall enough the following summer. He was and we couldn’t get him off the coasters. By the time he was 7, he’d had his forehead stitched 3x, for various attempts at flipping or flying. He’s 17 now, he’d like to do a parachute jump and bungee. He’s love to chase a storm.
I can’t see parents like this doing ‘something’ to one of their kids. Sounds like they’ve been pretty involved with their kids, even if we think chasing storms is screwy. The plywood bottom would certainly hold a 6 year old although it might not stay attached to the rest of the craft for long. I just hope the reports of something ‘falling out’ aren’t what they seem to be.
I didn’t mean to imply a 6 year old WOULDN’T want to do it but that they COULDN’T do it.
If that balloon had enough lift to carry the kid then it would be too challenging for the kid to keep it tethered/balanced while he climbed in and then release the tethers.
But someone pointed out his brother may have untethered it for him and that is plausible. But I am highly suspect of the original story that the boy did it all by himself.