This post is part of our feature on Money Losers of 2008. See all 20.
Helium strikes again. The funniest of all gasses broke the heart of Londoner and jokester Lefkos Hajji, who had concealed a $12,000 engagement ring in a balloon full of the stuff. His plan? To hand his intended, Leanne, a pin so she could pop the balloon as he popped the question.
Sadly, just as Hajji exited the jewelers, a gust of wind snatched the balloon from his hand allowing wicked helium to carry his rock into the sky. A frantic two-hour car chase ensued, man vs. balloon, but eventually the helium made a clean getaway.
The English seem to have a particular problem with helium. In 2007, Calum McFadyen, at his four-year-old son's behest, tied his wedding ring to a Thomas the Tank Engine helium balloon while playing in the house. He forgot about it until his son opened the front door and the balloon made a mad, successful, dash for freedom. His dad was particularly miffed that his son stood in the doorway gleefully waving goodbye to his balloon.
The lesson? Never mix fine jewelry and helium: the cops don't pay attention to callers with high, squeaky voices, no matter how desperately you need their helicopter.
Be sure to check out more Money Losers of 2008.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-26-2008 @ 8:24AM
tt-rexxx said...
if the ring cost 12,000g's the cost to replace it would bring the total to 24,000 g's I'll bet he postponed the wedding indefinately.LOL
12-26-2008 @ 8:30AM
aaron012345 said...
Dumbass.
12-26-2008 @ 9:14AM
dave said...
112-26-2008 @ 8:24AM
tt-rexxx said...
if the ring cost 12,000g's the cost to replace it would bring the total to 24,000 g's I'll bet he postponed the wedding indefinately.LOL
--------------------------------------------------------The ring cost $12,000 not 12000g's that would be $12,000,000 . I bet your math teachers are really proud of you .
12-26-2008 @ 9:26AM
monty said...
what would jeff dunham's walter say, "DUMBASS"
12-26-2008 @ 9:51AM
mike said...
rule 1#
if you are going to do this have a gun at your side to shot the dam thing down
rule 2#
put a fake ring in the balloon & the real one in your pocket
rule 3#
put Inc. on the ring before you do a dumass move like putting a $ 12,000.00 RING in a balloon
12-26-2008 @ 10:26AM
shaunisadirty said...
What a dumbass, did he think she was going to pop it and the ring would just land in her hand?
12-26-2008 @ 10:40AM
tt-rexxx said...
Typo Dumbarsss I just flushed more brains then you woke up with
12-26-2008 @ 11:54AM
Laura said...
If he was smart, he would of put a dummy ring in the balloon and given her the real one on ground. I'm sure some nice patron will find the ring and return it and it will be a very happy ending.
12-26-2008 @ 12:35PM
Annie said...
I hope that someone honest finds the ring and tries to find a way to return it to the rightful owner! I hope they say, "Hey, I found an expensive-looking ring in an unusual spot - if you can name it, it's probably yours". I hope it's found soon. In reality? My seven-year-old forgot to tell me he put a frog in his pocket (I found out by washing it - I forgot to check his pockets [you'd think I would have learned when I washed a permanant marker once]). Said child would also toss the ring aside "Ew! Girly-stuff!" and keep the balloon shards to use as part of the robots or aliens he builds (yes, I allow my son to play with non-toxic garbage, it's just as fun as toys, there's no rules and it costs me zilch). Anyhow, I really am keeping my fingers crossed for Dude that he gets the ring back. The mean part of me thinks he would have learned the first time it happened. Sounds mean but I've also read (from what may or may not be a reliable source) that a person who has been struck by lightening is more likely to be struck again than a person who hasn't been struck at all.
12-26-2008 @ 1:25PM
casey said...
my ring was attaced to a dozen roses and the fake chocolate one was the one with the ring on it. dont you think that there would be a better way to do it. and maybe try to do it inside or something dumbass
12-26-2008 @ 3:28PM
Bonnie said...
that sux 4 h!mm.....
12-26-2008 @ 5:32PM
EDA said...
Hahahaha....sorry but it is funny!!!
Poor guy.....I bet he learned a valuable lesson.
If I find it I promise I will return it to you.
I mean it.....I will!!!!
Ü
12-26-2008 @ 4:16PM
lilacroses62 said...
12-26-2008 @ 8:30AM
aaron012345 said...
Dumbass.////
AARON, PROBABLY THE MOST APPROPRIATE ONE WORD REPLY THERE COULD EVER BE....
12-26-2008 @ 3:59PM
lilacroses62 said...
12-26-2008 @ 8:30AM
aaron012345 said...
Dumbass.////
AARON, PROBABLY THE MOST APPROPRIATE ONE WORD REPLY THERE COULD EVER BE....
12-26-2008 @ 4:03PM
Just Me said...
HA HA HA HAAA (ROTFL) The idiot deserves it for being stupid.
12-26-2008 @ 4:56PM
Harvey Michael said...
After checking the stats on prevailing winds, I did a little math, some simple aerodynamics calculations, tensile strength of balloon material, I went directly to the place it had to come down but it wasn't there. Somebody got there first!