THE SCOTTISH teenager left fighting for his life after a brutal attack in Ayia Napa on Tuesday was moved to Nicosia General Hospital yesterday where he was put back on a respirator.
Student Douglas Neilson, 19, was taken to the neurosurgeon’s ward in Nicosia yesterday for observation. His condition was described as “stable but critical”. Although breathing without the use of a respirator on Thursday, a hospital official told the Cyprus Mail that he was put back on the respirator yesterday. Neilson’s parents, Andrew and Mary, have travelled to Cyprus to be at their son’s bedside.
Neilson was discovered battered and bleeding in the holiday resort in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The 19-year-old, from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, was found lying behind a church with his trousers down, suffering from massive head injuries on the first night of a week-long holiday.
David Evans, 20, from Hendon in London, was arrested in connection with the attack and remanded for eight days on Thursday on suspicion of assault and causing grievous bodily harm.
Police launched a manhunt for Evans after finding his picture on Neilson’s digital camera. The photo was the last one taken, at 3.10am, before Neilson was found unconscious at 5.30am. Police combed the pubs and clubs of Ayia Napa in search of Evans until he was finally spotted and arrested on Wednesday night.
Police said Evans had confessed to the attack, claiming both were drunk at the time. A source said the suspect had told police he had attacked Neilson after the Scottish student made a lewd approach, admitting he had punched him first, then kicked him when he was on the ground.
Evans was holidaying in Cyprus with a friend at the time of the attack. Neilson, a student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, was on holiday with his friends Stuart Neilson, 19, no relation, David Hall and David McCabe, both 20. It was understood the friends had become separated a few hours before Neilson was attacked.
According to the Press Association (PA), it was Neilson’s friend, David Hall, who discovered Evans in night bar and informed police. Speaking to PA yesterday from her home in Wishaw, Hall’s mother Wilma, 47, said her son had spotted London man David Evans – who has since admitted attacking Neilson – in a local bar, two days after the incident.
“The boys went for something to eat and spotted a group of lads in the bar,” said Mrs Hall. “They followed them, but the boys had clicked and ran off. David and his friends then flagged down a passing police car and the police arrested them.”
She added that the attack had left her fearing for the safety of her own son, who is due to return home on Sunday.
“This could have happened to any of them – it is just really worrying,” she said. “It is a terrible time to go on holiday, especially with the football on at the moment, and everyone in the bars. The boys just wanted to go on holiday and enjoy themselves and this is what happens. Douglas is the quietest out of all of them.”
