A GRANDAD may never be able to live independently again after he suffered a life-changing injury which he was on holiday.

Gary Cotton, 57, has been receiving life-saving round-the-clock hospital care since he suffered a fall from an 8ft fence in Marbella in Spain last August.

On the final night of his holiday Mr Cotton, from Dovercourt, climbed a fence in an attempt to get into his hotel room after leaving his keys with his roommates.

However, the grandad-of-five lost his footing and fell to the ground and landing on his head - leaving him unconscious.

Having suffered brain damage, the former carpenter was taken to a hospital in Malaga where he was placed in an induced coma.

He required round-the-clock care as his body was unable to function without assistance.

Stranded - Gary Cotton, 57, is currently in a coma in a Spainish hospital having fallen from an 8ft fence

By mid-September Mr Cotton was able to breath unassisted, but hospital bosses then said he needed to be moved on to receive care and rehabilitation.

His concerned family launched a crowdfunding page in a desperate bid to raise £20,000 to bring him home to Essex via air ambulance.

Donations poured in and in the end Mr Cotton was taken to Colchester Hospital by land ambulance in October at a cost of £10,000.

Read more:

He was cared for there before being moved to the Colman Centre for specialist neurological rehabilitation at Norwich Hospital.

He is expected to stay there for about 12 weeks.

Mr Cotton’s niece, Samantha O’Driscoll, said her uncle has severe brain damage as a result of the fall.

She added: “It is looking very likely he will never be able to live independently again.

“At present he still needs care for all his needs.

“It has been an incredibly difficult time for all of his family and friends, due to not knowing the extent of his injuries.

“When he arrived back in the UK we were hoping to be able to help his recovery with visits, but understandably this hasn’t been the case due to Covid-19.

“Since he has been moved to Norwich, lockdown restrictions have again meant we still can’t visit him.

“We are now waiting for a review next week from the doctors so we will hopefully know more by then.”