The Michelin Man, the mascot for the Michelin manufacturing company.
Michelin Men or Balloon Men are a type of possibly extraterrestrial cryptid that has been reported on a small number of occasions throughout the world. These entities were dubbed with these names due to their similarity in appearance to the popular Michelin Man mascot.[1]
Sightings[]
Creatures Sighed in 1960 by Antonio Ribera
In May 1960 Don Miguel Timerman Ceballos, a local teacher was at a crossroads between Arcos de la Frontera and El Bosque (both towns being in the province of Cadiz, Spain) returning from a motorcycle trip when he discerned a strange human-like being about 150 meters (500 feet) away, on a short steep uphill incline of the highway that was ahead of him. He describes the being as follows:
"He was completely red, from head to foot, and suddenly appeared at the edge of the highway, rather tall, something like two meters (6' 7") or more, having trouble walking, and his walking was like a mechanical doll, that is to say, like a robot, with stiff arms."
After stopping his motorcycle he saw the humanoid was walking on the edge of the road, and before going six steps, another individual of similar characteristics appeared, and followed him. Like his predecessor, he appeared suddenly. The second humanoid was not so tall, as he measured about one meter twenty centimeters (3' 11"), and though he was also dressed in red, he had one difference with respect to his predecessor: he had a black boot. Ceballos could not remember if the "boot" was on the left foot or the right one, but he certifies that he saw it like that. The two humanoids then crossed the highway at an angle and Ceballos saw the ringed outlines of the beings, with the classic shape of the "Michelin man." Ribera decided to get closer, while he debated with himself over the danger entailed in his decision, so he again started up his vehicle. On reaching the curve in the highway to head toward the slope where the humanoids were located, they had disappeared in the same mysterious manner that they had appeared. This anomalous sighting was reported by Antonio Ribera, spanish author, translator and ufologist.
Another incident occurred on the Island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean between Mauritius and Madagascar, in an area known as La Plaine des Cafres, where a similiar sighting was made on July 31, 1968. Around 9:00 AM a local farmer named M. Luce Fontaine reported the following event.[]
"I was at [the] kilometre 21 [mark], in a small clearing in the middle of a forest of acacia trees, that morning, and I was bending down and picking some grass for my rabbits when I suddenly saw a sort of oval-shaped cabin in the clearing. It was 25 metres from me, and as though suspended at a height of four or five metres from the ground. The extremities of it were dark blue, the centre part lighter, more transparent rather like the windscreen of a [Peugeot] 404. Above and below it had what looked like two glass feet of shining metal. In the centre of the cabin were two individuals with their backs towards me. The one on the left turned right round and so faced me. He was standing, small, about 90 centimetres in height, enveloped from head to feet in a sort of one-piece overall a bit like the suit worn by the 'Michelin man'. The one on the right simply turned his head round towards me, but all the same I had time to catch a glimpse of his face, which was partly masked by a sort of helmet. Then both turned their backs to me, and there was a flash, as strong as the electric arc of a welding machine. Everything went white around me. A powerful heat was given off and then as it were a sort of blast of wind, and a few seconds later there was nothing there any more. Then I approached the spot over which the object had been. There were no marks. The object had a diameter of 4 or 5 metres and was about 2 1/2 metres measured through from top to bottom. It was of a bluish colour, with white on the upper and lower parts. I told my wife all about it, and then the Gendarmerie, and everyone at once believed me."
On March 14, 1976, Vicente and Carmen Corell, a married couple, were driving along small roads in Spain's Castellon region. At around 10:00 p.m., the couple found themselves noticing a strange phenomenon in the night sky and reported a white oval that floated to the left of their own car. Believing at first that it might be the headlights of a car on a nearby hill, the Corells only made it a few hundred feet before they believed they were driving into a "luminous tornado" of sorts as an object appeared to rise out of the ground. Bathing the object with his car's high beams, Mr. Corell was startled to see that it was a person.
"I suppose that it had two legs, because it reminded me of a human profile. However, since they [the legs] were so close together, it looked more like a column than a human being. The thing was tall, good-looking [sic] and wore a close fitting, one-piece outfit..."
The couple's initial fascination changed to fear as the Renault's lights suddenly went out, leaving them in pitch blackness. The smell of burning wires soon filled the passenger compartment and Corell was forced to pull over. While all this happened, the entity vanished into the darkness. Vicente and Carmen Corell, their car's electrical system ruined, were left to wonder what had happened.
In 2015, Lon Strickler (host of the paranormal Arcane Radio and admin of the website Phantoms and Monsters) received the following letter.[]
"Hello - when I was in my early teens, I witnessed something that I have never been able to explain. This occurred in northern Minnesota. I have included a picture of what it looked like to me.
I was in the woodlot behind the barn around 9pm. It was in July 1971 and I was out there with my Collie dog 'Bonnie'.
Bonnie started barking and running towards the far edge of the woods. I called for her, but she continued running. I started to chase after her. As I got nearer to the small field, Bonnie was laying down looking towards the sky. I looked in the same direction and saw a bright yellow light coming towards us.
The light got brighter and larger. Bonnie barked a few more times and ran back into the woods - she was scared. Well, I was scared also. The light was hovering above me. I felt paralyzed - I wanted to run but just couldn't move.
I looked at the light and started to make out a shape. I have always said that it was a 'balloon man' - it was round in the body and segmented leg and arms. The head was a bright yellow light. I couldn't see a face, just a bright blinding light. It hovered for a minute then moved towards me. It was right in front of me. I'd say it was 8 foot tall and very wide. There was an intense heat coming from it also - I had trouble breathing and was very uncomfortable. Then it started to hover and circle around me. I thought I was going to pass out. Then suddenly it just disappeared - simply vanished. As soon as it did, I dropped to the ground and started shivering. I could move but I was so cold and felt weak and sick. I laid there for a long time.
I heard my Mom calling and then Bonnie was beside me barking. My Mom was frantic and tried to get me to my feet. I couldn't stand. I was just too weak to move. Soon my older brothers showed up and they carried me to the house.
I was sick in bed for about a week. The doctor said I had a severe reaction to poison sumac, which I know wasn't correct. I had a sore red rash on my face and arms. The 'balloon man' burned me somehow and had weakened me.
After I recuperated I told my Mom what had happened. She was surprised by what I described. She knew I didn't have poison sumac, but she didn't question the doctor. I never told anyone else about my contact with the 'balloon man', but I told my brothers not to go into the far field at night. They just laughed.
Was this a UFO or an alien? Your email was on an extraterrestrial forum, so I thought I'd write you. I still live near the farm and there have been a few UFO reports in the area (Marshall Co.) according to people I know nearby. Thanks for your attention." Roger
Later, when asked by Lon for more information, Roger mentioned that his dog Bonnie died not long after the incident from an acute heart condition. He also still lives near the farm and claims that others in Marshall County have reported UFO sightings in the area.
Gallery[]
