An Aberdeen father was left devastated on Christmas Day after discovering his son was fighting for his life in a US hospital.
Karl Inness only learned that his son Stuart Robb had been hit by a car after his sister read about the accident on the internet.
Stuart was left critically ill after being hit by a car while on holiday in Florida earlier this month.
Yesterday, Mr Inness, 48, said he only found out about his son’s accident on Christmas Day.
Mr Inness, an oil industry technician, of Mastrick Road, Aberdeen, said: “It was a huge shock, especially on Christmas Day.
“I was very upset. I just feel absolutely helpless because I can’t get over there.”
“My sister phoned and asked if I’d heard about Stuart, she had heard about it online. He had been hit by a taxi.”
Having heard the news, Mr Inness called round all the hospitals in the region to find out where his son was being treated.
Mr Inness said he remains in an induced coma at the Halifax Health-Medical Centre having had surgery for a blood clot in his brain.
Stuart, from Balintore, is understood to have been in Florida to visit his cousin, Ally Macdonald, who is also originally from Easter Ross.
Mr Macdonald had been due to graduate from a university in Daytona Beach and his cousin had been due to attend the ceremony, it is understood.
Days before the accident, the pair visited Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Mr Inness added: “I can’t to anything to help – he is just so far away. I am just hoping he is going to pull through.
“We won’t know until he comes out of the coma what is going to happen.”
Mr Inness said he did not meet his son until Stuart was 18 but that they had since kept in touch.
He added: “I spoke to him just before he went on holiday and he was so excited about going.
“I said he would have to come here to pick up his Christmas present when he got back.”