Doting dad dies in resort tragedy
THE family of a Scot knocked down and killed while on holiday in the Canaries described him as a doting father last night.
Darren Laurie, 29, died almost instantly after being hit by a 4x4 as he crossed an unlit main road on the island of Fuerteventura on Sunday.
The incident happened in Puerto Lajas, a former fishing village popular with windsurfers just north of the island capital, Puerto del Rosario.
His family said the Hearts fan had spent the afternoon watching the Edinburgh football derby against Hibs on TV in a bar, but he later slipped on a step outside.
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He hit his head and was taken by ambulance to hospital, but was later allowed to leave and he may have attempted to walk back to the resort.
We’re still trying to come to terms with it. Darren was just an easy-going guy, laid back and liked by everyone.
Mr Laurie was killed as he tried to cross a main road at around 10pm.
The driver called for assistance from his mobile phone, but paramedics were unable to save him.
Mr Laurie, who lived in Bathgate, West Lothian, with his wife Kiarina, son, Luke, and step-daughter Alana, was a home delivery driver for Asda.
He had been on holiday with his brother-in-law, Matthew Brown, and other family members.
His parents John and Alison, from the village of Pumpherston, West Lothian, are devastated by his death.
John, 57, said: “We’re still trying to come to terms with it. Darren was just an easy-going guy, laid back and liked by everyone.
“He doted on his kids. He’s got an eight-year-old son, Luke, who still doesn’t know his daddy is dead. He also has a little girl, Alana.
“His wife Kiarina is devastated.”
The grieving father, who runs a snack bar in the area, was given the news by another family member in the early hours of Monday.
He and wife Alison, 56, are still trying to uncover more about the circumstances of their son’s death.
He said: “It was just a family holiday. Darren went with some of his in-laws and they had been in the pub watching the football. He was enjoying himself and was still in high spirits even though his side lost.
“We’ve been told he only had three pints and wasn’t drunk, but he went outside and slipped on a marble step. A barman saw it and called an ambulance.
“Matthew went away to get Darren’s documents, but in that time we think he was let out.
“Nobody really knows what happened after that. We don’t know whether he was concussed. He was found three to four kilometres from the hospital. As far as we know he was on his own when it happened – it was an unlit main road.”
Mrs Laurie added: “It still hasn’t sunk in. We really miss him.”
Police confirmed last night the driver of the 4x4, a locally registered car, had been identified and was helping them with their inquiries.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are providing consular assistance to his family at this difficult time.”
