Holidaymaker fractured spine in hot-air balloon crash
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."
Read more:
TOURIST ATTRACTION: The Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor.
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