Transatlantic Mystery: Message in a Balloon Travels From France to England, Sender Remains Unknown
A message attached to helium balloons, originating in France and discovered on a beach in southwest England, has sparked a cross-channel investigation. The note, sent to the editorial staff of Ouest-France in Saint-Lô on December 29, 2025, details a simple experiment – a “traveling balloon” launched to test the limits of distance – but the identity and precise location of the sender remain elusive.
the unusual revelation was made by Simon Stuart, a resident of the UK, who found the balloons and attached message on Dunster beach in West Somerset on December 28, 2025. He shared photos of the find with Ouest-France, initiating a search for the sender.
The letter itself, partially damaged during its journey, provides few concrete clues. The sender’s name is tough to decipher, appearing as “Mae? Mae? mad? Verhaege.” The message explains the purpose of the balloon launch: “I send a traveling balloon to see the distance traveled.” Following this, the sender provided an address: “I live at 12 bis rue du Maréchal leclerc building 4 n°22.” A question is then posed: “Is it in Saint-Lô in Manche?”
Initial investigations by Ouest-France reporters in Saint-Lô have yielded no results. Rue du Maréchal-Leclerc is a major thoroughfare in the city, but no building numbered “12 bis” exists along the street.A search of the area surrounding number 12, including the back of the Éphémère store and nearby Passage Queillé-Chopin, proved fruitless. Residents questioned were eager to assist but unable to identify the address.
“The 12 bis? I don’t see,” remarked one resident, speaking from the top floor of a building overlooking the street. Another suggested contacting the town hall for assistance. However, officials at the civil status service confirmed that an address of “12 bis, building 4” does not appear to exist within Saint-Lô.
The mystery deepens with the lack of information regarding the launch date and precise location within France.The only certainty, as noted by Ouest-France, is that the weather conditions were windy in the days leading up to the balloon’s discovery.
The search for the sender continues, with Ouest-France inviting anyone with information to contact them at [email protected]. The story serves as a whimsical reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather and the enduring human fascination with exploration, even on a small, balloon-borne scale.
Here’s a breakdown answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions, transforming the update into a substantive news report:
What: A message attached to helium balloons was discovered on Dunster Beach in West Somerset, England, originating from France. The message details a simple experiment – a “traveling balloon” launched to test distance.
Who: Simon Stuart, a resident of West Somerset, discovered the message. The sender is currently unknown,identified only by a partially legible name: “Mae? Mae? Mad? Verhaege.” Ouest-France is actively investigating.
Why: The sender launched the balloon as a personal experiment to determine how far it could travel. The motivation appears purely exploratory and whimsical.
How: The sender attached a handwritten note to helium balloons and launched them from an unknown location in France. The balloons traveled across the English Channel,landing on Dunster Beach. The message was then shared with Ouest-France, initiating the search for the sender. The investigation has so far been unsuccessful in locating the address provided,”12 bis
