Talented Boxer Fights for Life After Thailand Accident
A promising young boxer from Scotland is in critical condition in a Thai hospital following a severe accident on the island of Phuket. Colin Cairney, 22, sustained a critical head injury after reportedly falling from the back of a moving tuk tuk in the early hours of Sunday.
Details of the Incident
Reports indicate that Mr. Cairney was returning to his hotel when the incident occurred. Authorities are investigating the possibility of a dispute over payment with the tuk tuk driver, who allegedly failed to stop to drop off his passenger. Police believe Mr. Cairney lost his balance and fell from the vehicle, sustaining his severe head injury. He was initially taken to Patong Hospital before being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he remains in intensive care and in a coma.
Mr. Cairney, who was crowned the Commonwealth International Welterweight Champion just last month, was found injured on the road. Initial assumptions by officers that he may have been assaulted were later revised after reviewing CCTV footage and speaking with witnesses. The injuries were determined to be consistent with a fall from a vehicle.
Community Rallies for Support
A significant outpouring of support has emerged for Mr. Cairney, with two separate fundraising pages collecting over £48,000 in a matter of hours. These funds are designated to assist with his mounting medical bills and to facilitate his eventual return home. The pages highlight the overwhelming costs associated with his care, accommodation, and travel.
One fundraising effort, initiated by a family friend, describes the situation as a “parent’s worst nightmare” and emphasizes the need for Colin to be surrounded by his support network during his recovery. Another page, established by his boxing club, 1314BC, conveys the heartbreak felt by those who know and love him, stating the necessity of funds for his ongoing treatment due to a lack of travel insurance.
Ongoing Investigation
An investigation into the incident is currently underway. There are reports that the owner of the red tuk tuk in question informed police that the vehicle had been rented out to another driver at the time of the accident. A hotel security guard reportedly told investigators that Mr. Cairney had attempted to pay for the fare with his bank card but was unable to, and intended to get cash from an ATM.
Police Major Surachat Thongyai, the investigating officer at Patong Police Station, stated that the vehicle should have turned into the hotel to drop off the passenger but instead continued on. He noted that the vehicle was traveling at speed, but without sudden acceleration, and that the injured person was positioned near the rear of the vehicle when he fell.
Blood tests have also been ordered to determine if Mr. Cairney had any substances in his system at the time of the fall. It is understood that Mr. Cairney had traveled to Phuket with family and friends for a holiday, which also included attending boxing training camps. He maintained an unbeaten professional boxing record of 10 wins from 10 fights and had previously won the WBO International Youth Welterweight Title.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that they are providing support to the family of the British national hospitalized in Thailand.
