Identities of China balloon crash YouTube stars revealed

The identities of three men whose comical commentary during a hot air balloon crash in China in 2007 attracted more than one million hits on YouTube have finally been revealed.

Instead of screaming and shouting as they stared death in the face, the trio made Wallace and Gromit jokes and sang the tune from the film Deliverance during the clip, entitled Hot Air Balloon Crash in China.

Warning: language in the video may offend some viewers.

Until now, viewers knew only that they were two brothers and a friend from Scotland and that the clip was filmed in a remote area of China.

They can now be revealed as accountant David Batchelor, 32, his actor brother Sandy, 28, and their friend, vet John Stewart, 32, who all grew up together in Kinross.

David and Sandy now both live in London while John lives and works in Fife.

Viewers all over the world have praised the three friends for their composure and for their sense of humour during the death-defying incident.

One commented: “Typical Scots, laughing in the face of danger.”

Another said: “This is wonderful I’d love to travel with these Scottish lads.”