Responding was OK.

It was the inability to recognise that the balloon was incapable of lifting the kid, especially once the balloon lost shape with helium loss.

Hindsight with the Hubble Telescope perhaps, but they locked in a mindset they couldn't break.

I couldn't work out why the choppers weren't used to "wash" the balloon down, especially once it became sluggish.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating