Internet giant Google has confirmed a large balloon, spotted in Lake Brunner this week by a local boater, was one of its Project Loon wi-fi internet balloons.
The balloons are designed to provide an airborne network of internet coverage in parts of the world where reliable internet is hard to
come by.
John Welsh, who has a holiday home by the lake, said he was out on a pleasure run with some friends on Lake Brunner on Tuesday when he saw a big white object on the edge of the lake.
"We came over to have a look, it was like a big weather balloon with solar panels on it, floating in the lake, caught up in some weeds, just sitting there.
"We did have a look to see where it came from, though we didn't get too close with the boat in case it got caught up in the propellor. There was all this electrical gear you could get hold of and pull it up with."
