Kirsty Mckenzie
FAMILY of a much-loved British man who was placed in a coma after suffering a tragic fall on holiday in Spain are raising £20,000 to bring him home.
Gary Cotton, 57, is stranded in a specialist hospital in Malaga with brain damage after he plummeted from an 8ft fence while on a trip away with his friends.
The Harwich local flew out to Marbella when the air bridge to Spain was in place and enjoyed a fun-filled getaway with pals in the popular tourist town.
But tragedy struck when the former carpenter decided to climb an 8ft fence in a bid to gain access to his hotel room after leaving his key with his roommates.
It is then believed he lost his footing before plunging to the ground and landing on his head, with blood coming from his nose and ears.
He was rushed to the nearest hospital after being spotted lying unconscious by two people passing by.
Days later he was transported to a specialist hospital in Malaga where he is being treated for brain damage.
Gary was placed by doctors into a medically induced coma and has required around the clock care since he was admitted on August 29.
His family, including his heartbroken daughter Carly Plume, 35, who is 16-weeks pregnant, was told at first there was nothing the doctors could do.
Devastated Carly said: “The past three weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster, trying to find out the extent of his injuries and whether he will pull through.”
However the family have received some good new after learning that Gary is now breathing unaided and is stable without sedation.
Sadly he remains unconscious and doctors are unable to predict the extent of his brain damage.
Carly is now determined to rally together with friends and family to raise the £20,000 needed to bring Gary home, in the hopes that one day he can meet his new grandchild.
She said: “We can now consider the next steps which is hopefully bringing him home to the Uk and continuing his care.
“The only way to bring him home in his condition is by air ambulance and this can cost upwards of 30,000 and in the short time the family has to do its very difficult.”
So far kindhearted donations have poured in from across the UK and the Cotton family have raised over £2,000.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helptogetgaryhome.
