Egypt hot air balloon disaster survivor Michael Rennie has spoken of his “hell” as his holiday adventure turned to tragedy.
Mr Rennie, from Perth, was injured and his wife Yvonne killed when their balloon plummeted from the sky over Luxor last week.
Before flying home to Scotland with his 48-year-old wife’s body, Mr Rennie is understood to have told crash investigators of the terrifying moments as the balloon erupted in flames.
“It was hell,” the 49-year-old construction worker recalled. “The balloon went up in flames only three seconds after the gas leak started.
“I did not think I would survive the fire. Flames and thick smoke went up all around us and under our feet.”
Nineteen holidaymakers were killed as the balloon plunged to the ground.
The tragedy is believed to have occurred after a cable snagged a gas canister as the balloon touched down following an uneventful flight.
A fire ensued that saw the balloon rise rapidly up to 1,000 feet before exploding and crashing down to earth.
Mr Rennie and the balloon’s pilot were the only people to survive the tragic incident after they jumped clear of the basket.
The father-of-two has not returned to the home the couple shared in Perth. He is understood be staying with family as he tries to come to terms with what has happened.