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The helicopter crew soon spotted a figure "wearing red pants, blue outerwear, a red cap and a white beard," police said in a news release.
The "body" turned out to be a partially deflated balloon in the shape of Papa Smurf, known in Germany as Papa Schlumpf.
Police shared a photo of the rescued balloon buckled into the seat of a patrol car for safe transport back to police headquarters.
Officers "took him to the police station, but have so far reached no relatives."
Police said the witness was "entirely justified" in making the emergency call, which they said could "potentially save lives under different circumstances."