London, Oct 24 : The mum of a six-year-old American boy once feared missing inside a runaway helium balloon has apparently admitted to investigators that the whole episode was a hoax and that she and her husband “knew all along” that Falcon Heene was asleep at home.

According to reports, Balloon Boy''s mother, Mayumi Heene, told officials she and her husband "knew all along" her son, aged six, was hiding at home, reports The Daily Express.

The papers, which were made public in the United States, also suggest the parents had told their children to lie.

According to the affidavit, Mrs Heene said the plan was to make the Colorado family more marketable to the media.

The drama was watched live on TV by millions around the globe as the balloon flew through the air. When it eventually landed Falcon was not on board. He later claimed to have been hiding in the attic at the family home.

An affidavit said: “Mayumi described that she and Richard Heene devised this hoax approximately two weeks earlier.” (ANI)