Holidaymaker fractured spine in hot-air balloon crash
A TOURIST is in hospital with serious injuries after a hot-air balloon crashed to the ground in Egypt.
Retired policewoman Linda Lea fractured her spine and broke her collarbone, shin and three ribs after the balloon she was in above Luxor abruptly fell 30ft.
The 63-year-old has described hearing an explosion before being dragged along the ground and then left in a field for an hour.
It is understood that the balloon hit a mobile phone transmission tower after a strong gust of wind.
After being treated in Cairo, Mrs Lea was flown to a West Midlands hospital under general anaesthetic.
Speaking from her bed at the high dependency unit at Dudley Hospital, Mrs Lea, of Brown Edge, said: "I am glad to be alive. I lay in a cornfield for about an hour waiting for help after it crashed.
"I will never forget the spike coming through the balloon. I think there was an explosion of some sort before it plummeted to the ground.
"I think there were about 26 people in the balloon, but I understand there should only have been 15."
Mrs Lea was flown back to Britain after criticism of the hospital in Egypt.
Her daughter, Debbie, who flew to Egypt to be at her mum's bedside, said: "My mother's injuries are dreadful and I am amazed she got away with what she did in view of what happened.
"Local medical staff failed at first to diagnose her spine and rib injuries and also left an open leg wound to fester."
Police questioned the balloon's pilot following the crash on April 25 and three days later the Egyptian Government suspended all balloon flights over Luxor.
The Foreign Office in London has spoken to the Egyptian Government about the hospital treatment received by Mrs Lea.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "There have been three serious hot air balloon accidents in Luxor in 2009. Anyone travelling should consider the safety arrangements."
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8 Comments
by Ian, Birches Head
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 4:43PM
“Nearly right Tom.
Senemut appears to have based the temple of Hatshepsut on the temple of Montuhotep II which is next to the temple of Hatshepsut and was built in the 11th dynasty during the mIddle Kingdom.
Hatshepsuts temple dates to the 18th Dynasty in the New Kingdom and was not, therefore, the first structure on the site.
Djeser means Sacred or holy and Djeseru is the plural form so it means more Sacred or holy.
Djeser Djeseru is Usually translated as the "Holy of Holies"”
by Brian, Newcastle
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:58PM
“Well said Tom - shut up Karen in your chav car Impreza.”
by Tom Colclough, Cairo
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:46PM
“The photograph in question is depicts the Djeser-Djeseru is the main building of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple complex at Deir el-Bahri. Designed by Senemut, her vizier, the building is an example of perfect symmetry that predates the Parthenon, and it was the first complex built on the site she chose, which would become the Valley of the Kings”
by Greg, Hanley
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:29PM
“So Karen can afford a cruise on the Nile can she............who'd have thought it ! Doesn't really go with driving an impreza!”
by Ellie, Stoke
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 11:14AM
“Don, me too. Thought I was going mad.”
by Don, Stoke-on-trent
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 11:12AM
“I`ve read this story several times now,and I have not seen any comment as to MS Lea`s politics???????”
by Mike, Orlando. best flying area in the world
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 10:46AM
“Whilst I feel very sorry for Mrs Lea and that she experienced these injuries in a hot air balloon, i feel the need to clarify a couple of things. The balloons they fly over Luxor are very large passenger balloons and are probably capable of flying 20+ passengers. A balloon that is rated only to fly 15 pax and had 26 on board would not be capable of lifting off the ground. As the volume of the fabric part increases, so does its lift capacity. You also say a couple of times "I think". Well, these thoughts will be confirmed or rejected as there will be a investigation by the Aviation Safety Board as there were injuries. Just to clarify, Hot air Balloons are still the safest form of flying.”
by Hard Karen, In my lovely Impreza
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 8:33AM
“Why do you have to tell us what Ms Lea's politics are? Whether she's right, left or whatever makes no change to the story. BTW the pic label's wrong, that temple's at Dair-el-Bahri, I went there on my Nile cruize last year, it was top.”