Heads-up: This tribute page mentions suicide. If you or your loved ones need help, in the United States you can call 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters attached 43 weather balloons to his lawn chair, filled them with helium, put on a parachute, and strapped himself into the chair.
Later, when a reporter asked what made him decide to take a patio chair aloft, Walters explained:
"A man can't just sit around."
News segment on NBC News, 1982
Interview with David Letterman, 1982
Unfortunately, Larry's life story has a tragic ending. When Larry was 44 years old, he hiked to his favorite spot in the forest and shot himself in the heart, ending his life.
Rest in peace, Lawnchair Larry.
- Lawnchair Larry flight wikipedia.org
- The Legacy of ‘Lawnchair Larry’ danny-glover.medium.com
- Larry Walters' Lawn Chair airandspace.si.edu
- Larry Walters; Soared to Fame on Lawn Chair latimes.com
- 42 Balloons: a musical inspired by Larry's story 42balloons.com