A POPULAR Teesdale couple who were lucky to survive a hot air balloon crash while on holiday in China have arrived back in the UK.

David and Hazel Yeadon, who live at Boldron, near Barnard Castle, were injured only two days into their three-week trip while enjoying the excursion in the Guilin mountains, a popular destination for tourists. The accident happened when a freak gust of wind blew the balloon, which was carrying three other passengers, into a jagged cliff face, shredding it and causing the basket to plummet 300ft.

"We have tried not to be too dramatic about it, and have since been able to see the funny side, but it was very frightening at the time," said Mr Yeadon, who is recovering at the couple's home, having sustained fractures to his hip, an elbow and ribs.

"We thought this is it, our end has come, but we landed on a small ledge and there were people on hand literally within minutes," he added.

However, it did take some time to get them off the ledge as Mrs Yeadon, who received serious back injuries, had to be stretchered off.

She went through a lengthy operation in a Hong Kong hospital to separate her crushed vertebrae and spent some time recovering before she was deemed well enough to be airlifted to the UK on Sunday. She is currently in the spinal unit at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where Mr Yeadon said she was making good progress.

"She is managing to hobble around with two sticks, but we have no idea yet when she might be home," he said.

The couple are seasoned travellers, having taken in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and The Gambia in recent years. Ironically, their trip to China had been postponed from last year following the outbreak of the Sars virus.

But Mr Yeadon said the accident had not put them off either travelling or China.

"Hopefully it will be third time lucky," he added.

The couple are well known in the dale for their voluntary work. Mr Yeadon is involved with the Rotary Club, and Mrs Yeadon, a former guide leader, gives her services to the Witham Hall in Barnard Castle. Both are volunteers with the town's Citizens' Advice Bureau.

"However, we have cut everything out at the moment and are just concentrating on getting well," said Mr Yeadon.

He paid tribute to those involved in the rescue, hospital staff in Asia and the UK, and the insurers.