Funeral for balloon crash tourist

Mar 14 2013

Mourners have gathered for the funeral of a woman killed in last month's hot air balloon tragedy in Egypt.

Yvonne Rennie, 48, from Perth, was on holiday with her husband, Michael, when they were caught up in the horror crash in Luxor on February 26.

Nineteen people died when the balloon plunged to the ground in flames.

Mr Rennie, one of just two survivors, arrived with family members at a service in Perth Crematorium.

The 49-year-old construction services worker, who is thought to have escaped death by leaping from the basket, later described his wife as his "rock, friend, shoulder to cry on".

London-based Joe Bampton, 40, and his Hungarian-born partner, Zsi Gyetvai, 34, also died when the balloon exploded and crashed into sugar cane fields.

The company operating the flight, Sky Cruise, was also involved in a balloon crash into the Nile in October 2011.

Mr Rennie, who was treated for minor injuries at Luxor International Hospital and then returned to Scotland, is understood to have been married to his wife for around five years.

Mrs Rennie was a hospital administrator who joined the radiology department of Perth Royal Infirmary as an appointments officer in June 2006, having previously worked at Ninewells Hospital.

Colleagues at NHS Tayside said she was a much-loved member of staff who enjoyed her job and would be greatly missed.