Girl rescued from pool out of 4-month coma

A SCOTTISH girl who was pulled unconscious from a swimming pool in Spain four months ago has come out of a coma.
Children play in a swimming pool in Salour. Cally Simpson was pulled out of a pool in a Salour resort. Picture: ReutersChildren play in a swimming pool in Salour. Cally Simpson was pulled out of a pool in a Salour resort. Picture: Reuters
Children play in a swimming pool in Salour. Cally Simpson was pulled out of a pool in a Salour resort. Picture: Reuters

Four-year-old Cally Simpson has been slowly removed from the coma by hospital staff reducing her medication but she still remains seriously ill after the holiday tragedy in Salou on June 23.

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The Arbroath girl received treatment in several Spanish hospitals, before being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

The youngster is now in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, where she is closer to her parents, Kate Miller and Steven Simpson, who are both based in Arbroath.

Grandmother Liz Miller today said Cally had continued to make good progress, although she has a “long way to go”.

She said: “Cally coming out of her coma was a big step but unfortunately she can’t see and can’t talk,

“She has a specially made buggy, which gives her more support so Kate can take her out of the hospital grounds in good weather.

“She recently had a feeding tube inserted into her stomach.

“She receives physio most days and is getting her legs put into splints on Thursday, which will help her get back on her feet.”

Mrs Miller said she notices small improvements each time she visits.

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She added: “She is definitely aware when you are there because when I am talking on one side of the bed and Kate is on the other, she will move her head from side to side,

“Kate says she has heard her gargling - she even did that when she was dreaming one night.”

Next month Cally is due to start attending a specialist nursery, which Mrs Miller hopes might help her recovery.

“She is going there two days a week.

“She was in a nursery environment before any of this happened.

“They are going to take her two days a week from next month.

“It’s another positive step.”

Mrs Miller, a shop worker in Montrose, also wanted to express her thanks for the support she has received from the community.

She ran a prize bingo and raffle night at the Black Abbot in Montrose for the Cally Fund, which was supported by several businesses in the town.

She added: “There’s not a day goes by when people who come into the shop don’t ask about how Cally is doing.

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“The support we’ve had from people in Arbroath, Montrose and Dundee has been fantastic.

“A lot of businesses supported the raffle night - Frost the Bakers in Montrose even made a special Helping Cally Fund cake.

“She was also visited by players from both Dundee FC and Dundee United FC.

“I can’t thank people enough for their support.”

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