A badly-injured caddie revealed today from his hospital bed in Spain how a horrific car smash has left his friend fearing for his golf career.

Wickford cafe owner Ian Bainbridge, who has a fractured skull but is now out of intensive care, said he and promising Essex player Darren Parker were "just elated to still be alive".

Ian, 50, of Hullbridge's Hanover golf club, suffered a fractured skull and two broken wrists, while Darren, from the Maylands club near Harold Hill, broke his left arm and needed 42 head stitches.

Darren was set to jet back to England today - to a Brentwood hospital - on the very day Ian was due to caddy him for the third successive year in his bid to qualify for the main European tour.

Ian, currently wearing a neck-brace, said it was a head-on smash involving a BMW car.

"Our driver, Robert Coles - a professional golfer at Maylands, like Darren - said it happened so quickly he didn't have time to brake," Ian said.

"I was bleeding heavily. I didn't see our car, but I was told it was completely crumpled. The BMW was in a U-shape.

"We feel incredibly lucky to have survived. But Darren will be worrying about whether he can carry on playing - and he's only in his late 20s.

"I'm an eight-handicapper, and I'm worried about whether I'll be able to play."

Sunday's crash came as Ian and Darren returned to a flat, near Marbella in Spain, after warming up for today's start to the six-day Euro qualifier.

Ian, who runs Flatbridge Cafe in Hurricane Court, Wickford, added: "I'm just desperate to get home.

"This is the third Spanish hospital I've been in within five days. Apparently, I won't be able to leave for four or five more days."

Club members at Hanover and Maylands said that there was great concern for the injured golfers.

Robert is a previous qualifier for the European tour - which features the continent's top players - and Darren had been determined to match that feat this year.

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