'World's most caring' mum left in Tenerife holiday coma after 'freak accident'

08 January 2024 , 17:58

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A fundraiser has been set up so that the family of Julie McLaren can afford to stay by her bedside in Spain (Image: Gofundme)

The mum of a Scottish football star is in an induced coma after she fractured her skull on a family holiday in Tenerife, following a 'freak accident'.

Julie McLaren, from Dalkeith in Midlothian, was in the Canary Islands when she fell down a flight of stairs at her hotel. The 57-year-old suffered two skull fractures as well as two bleeds on her brain, and her condition is described by medics as critical.

The 57-year-old is receiving treatment at a hospital on the popular holiday island. She's the mum of Siobhan Hunter, who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Women's Premier League. However, without funds, the family cannot afford to stay with Julie on the Canary Islands.

Hibernian's Siobhan Hunter (SNS Group)

Julie's other daughter, Georgi, has since set up a GoFundMe page so that the mum won't be left alone on the island. Her son-in-law, Jayden, told Edinburgh Live: "My family are on holiday and had a freak accident as my mother-in-law fell in her hotel stairs. She is in hospital in Spain in an induced coma with two brain bleeds and two fractures in her skull.

"We are raising funds for our family to be able to afford to stay with her as we don’t have the financial means for it." Within just 16 hours, the fundraiser brought in almost £24,000.

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A statement on the fundraising page reads: "I’m fundraising for our mum Julie as she has had an accident on holiday in Tenerife. She now has two fractures in her skull and two bleeds on her brain. She has been placed in an induced coma and is in a critical condition, we are raising funds to enable us as a family to stay with her.

"Unfortunately, things are not looking good and we as a family are unable to finance staying with our mum. Please help us stay with her, any donations would be gratefully received."

Georgi asked well-wishers to keep her mum in their prayers. She wrote: "Please put my mum in your prayers every single minute you have. I need my mum more than you will ever know and I need her to guide me through life.

"Without her, I don’t know if I can do this horrible life. She’s amazing - beautiful, strong, independent, hard-working, funny, lively… I’d take every mood swing over this, please mum, wake up."

Another relative described her as "the most caring person" as they shared the fundraiser with their online connections. Karen Mcgregor said: "This is Julie, my daughter-in-law's mum - my friend. Julie is the most caring person, her family is her world she lives for her children and grandchildren. As a family, we are all absolutely heartbroken. Any small donation to help her family stay by her side would mean the world to them."

You can to Julie's fundraiser here.

Lee Dalgetty