• 20:17
  • Friday ,01 March 2013
العربية

British survivor pays tribute to wife killed in Egypt balloon crash

By-guardian

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21:02

Thursday ,28 February 2013

British survivor pays tribute to wife killed in Egypt balloon crash

The British survivor of the Luxor balloon disaster has paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as "my rock, my friend, my shoulder to cry on".

Michael Rennie, 49, was one of just two survivors of the crash that killed 19 people, including his wife, Yvonne, on Tuesday.
 
Tributes were also paid by Maureen Bampton to her London-based son, Joe, 40, and his partner, Zsi Gyetvai.
 
Rennie, of Perth, who is thought to have survived by leaping from the basket, issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said his wife was "my world".
 
"I would like to thank the staff at both hospitals in Cairo and Luxor, the British embassy – especially Hala Hamam and John Hamilton – and Kathryn Brace from [tour operator] Thomas Cook for helping me through these last few days.
 
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the other families that have lost relatives around the world in this terrible disaster.
 
"I would be grateful to the media for respecting my privacy and that of my family at this difficult time."
 
Earlier, Ms Bampton described her son and his partner as "wonderfully creative and sensitive individuals".
 
"I would like to thank everyone for their messages of condolence, cards and flowers following the tragic deaths of my son Joe Bampton and his girlfriend Zsi Gyetvai in Egypt on Tuesday.
 
"My son and Zsi were wonderfully creative and sensitive individuals who lived life to the full and enjoyed being in Clapham Common with their dog Ollie."
 
She added: "Joe had worked at Lots Road Auctions, Chelsea, as valuer and cataloguer for rugs and carpets since leaving the Slade School of Art [in London] in the mid-90s, when he graduated.
 
"During his time at the Slade he exhibited at the Barbican with the North London Group. He later went on to work, live and exhibit in Berlin, and subsequently showed at the Royal Academy summer show.
 
"Zsi met Joe at Lots Road Auctions, after graduating from Kingston College of Art. She exhibited her silk-screen prints and etchings under the name of Zsi Chimera. Her most recent exhibition in Britain was at the Smokehouse Gallery, Hackney [east London].
 
"Joe was an active member of the Chelsea Arts Club, captaining their snooker team and exhibiting his art there regularly. He was also involved with other pool teams around London.
 
"Joe and Zsi will be sadly missed by their families, and work colleagues, and their many, many good friends."