Daughter of ex-airport chief fights for her life

THE daughter of former Edinburgh Airport boss Gordon Dewar is fighting for her life after being run down by a car in Bahrain.

Olivia Dewar was struck by the vehicle in the village of Saar as she crossed a road from the Lamees Gardens residential compound on her way to a local supermarket, it is believed.

The 17-year-old is reported to be in a coma and suffered serious head and upper body injuries.

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Olivia moved to the Gulf state earlier this year with her father, sister Georgia and step-mother, after Mr Dewar was appointed chief executive of Bahrain Airport.

The teenager had been due to fly to Scotland for Christmas with her sister on Friday, but remains in a critical condition in the Salmaniya Medical Complex.

She had been crossing the road with a male classmate, Al Najjii, after visiting friends from St Christopher's Senior School, when they were struck by the car at round 11.30pm last Tuesday.

An eyewitness said the pair both fell to the road, but that Mr Najjii managed to get up a few seconds later.

However, they said that paramedics took half an hour to arrive on the scene and that Olivia lay on the ground during that time. She was rushed to hospital where medics performed emergency surgery.

One of the doctors who treated the pair, said that while Mr Al Najji was not seriously injured, Olivia was in critical condition.

"Doctors performed an emergency head surgery and are hoping she will recover," he said. "She is still very critical, unconscious and on a ventilator. We are hoping she will show some signs of improvement."

Local reports said a middle-aged man, believed to be the driver of the vehicle, was arrested by police two hours after the incident.

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It is understood Olivia's mother, Caroline Dewar, has flown from Edinburgh to be by her daughter's bedside, but in a message published on her own Facebook page, she said Olivia was "in a coma but alive and fighting", and thanked her friends for their support.

She added: "Any prayers gratefully received for my beautiful daughter Olivia who was knocked down by a car last Tuesday night here in Bahrain."

On Olivia's own page, messages of support flooded in from friends in Bahrain and the UK. One said: "Thinking of you Olivia. I really hope you get better soon."

Another wrote: "Just heard the news, I hope your alright and you recover fast! Stay strong and concentrate on fixing yourself better."

Dr PV Cheriya, chief resident at the Salmaniya Medical Complex's accident and emergency department said there had been no change and that Olivia was still in a critical condition.

Mr Dewar oversaw significant investment and expansion during his two years as managing director of Edinburgh Airport.

He declined to comment when contacted.

Yesterday, a school friend said that those who know Olivia were struggling to come to terms with what has happened, but are praying for her to recover.

They said: "What has happened is truly, truly terrible. She is really popular over here and has lots of really good friends. Everyone is so upset. It is so much harder when something like this happens at this time of year. She was so looking forward to going back to the UK to see her mum and family.

"Olivia is one of the nicest people I've ever met. I see her every day at school.

"When I heard what happened I cried so much."

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