Cupar soldier Darren Lackie in coma after Portugal holiday incident
A Fife soldier is battling to survive after a dream holiday with his girlfriend in Portugal turned into a nightmare.
The Courier understands Darren Lackie, from Cupar, is on a life support machine in a hospital in the popular resort of Faro.
An investigation into how the 22-year-old sustained the life-threatening injuries is under way.
Former Bell Baxter High School pupil Darren is on leave but serves with The Black Watch and was recently involved in operations in Afghanistan.
Members of his family flew out on Friday so they could be at his bedside. Meanwhile, the British Army has said it will offer "every support."
It is understood Darren is in a coma and his condition is giving "very serious" cause for concern. Devastated members of his extended family back home in Cupar were too upset to comment.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the British Army said an army padre and a welfare service officer had already made contact and were doing "all they can" to offer support.
She stressed that Darren was off-duty at the time of the incident.
There are currently no plans to fly Darren home and he will continue to be cared for in a hospital ward in Faro. It is understood he was rushed straight to the hospital following an incident on Thursday.
Darren's distraught girlfriend phoned his next of kin who immediately booked flights to the resort, which is located on Portugal's southern coast.
It is understood Portuguese police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Darren's injury.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said the British consulate in Portugal was "aware" of the incident and had made contact with the Fife man's family.
"We can confirm that a British national has been hospitalised in Faro, Portugal," he said. "We are providing consular assistance to the family."
The spokesman said Foreign Office officials would continue to monitor the situation.
"Consular staff are in contact with the hospital in Faro and the British national's family," he added.
As well as serving in Afghanistan, Darren has also seen action in Kenya, the Falklands and Belfast.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Fife/article/12514/cupar-soldier-darren-lackie-in-coma-after-portugal-holiday-incident.html
