By Graeme Cleland

THE STEPFATHER of a Dundee man paralysed in a freak holiday accident has praised his determination to recover.

Dean Fraser (22) suffered serious injuries to his spinal cord after slipping and banging his neck on swimming pool stairs while in Bulgaria late last month. The accident was compounded by the fact that a heroic holidaymaker from Glasgow who saved Dean from drowning may have inadvertently made his injuries worse.

However, after being flown home and operated on at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, Dean has started rehabilitation and his stepfather Bobby Skelligan said his son had impressed everyone with his determination and positive attitude.

“Dean has been doing really well and was moved out of the high dependency care ward on Tuesday night,” he said.

“The doctors have more or less said his legs will not work again but he’s already got some movement in his arms back and is getting physiotherapy to help with that.

“He’s been out of his bed and been moving around in a wheelchair for an hour a day, and has also been trying to feed himself. He’s so determined.”

Bobby said medical staff at the hospital had indicated they expected Dean to be in hospital for another eight months at least.

However, he said Dean’s family—including his mother Elaine, girlfriend Laura and daughter Kaela (4)—were dealing well with the situation and doing everything they could to help Dean’s recovery.

“Dean has got great support and has visitors every day. They have all been really impressed at how well he’s doing,” he said.

“His mum has been delighted at the way he has handled it all. She took it very hard at first but seeing his determination to get better has really helped her cope.”

Before going on his fateful holiday, Dean had just left his job as a baker for local firm Goodfellow and Steven to pursue a career in the scaffolding industry.

But, despite the accident ending these career plans, he has been given encouragement by the medics who treated him that he will be able to return to some form of work in the future.

“He spoke to his consultant who said there was no reason why he would not be able to work as many people with similar injuries have done it before,” said Bobby. “He was pretty frightened about it at first but he’s just looking to the future now.”

As well as Dean’s recovery bid, there has been progress in efforts to establish a trust fund to help pay for any care he might need in the future.

“We’re just waiting for the bank to confirm all the details and it will be up and running,” he said. “The first event will be a charity disco at the Marquee on October 1 and family friends have lots of things lined up, such as charity football matches and other sponsored events.”

Bobby said no target had been set, but the family hoped to raise enough to pay for the costs of any equipment or treatment Dean may need in the long term.