Young Aberdeen mother dies in Tenerife car crash

Lauren Middleton, left, died after being involved in a car crash in Tenerife. Graeme Digby, right, remains in hospital. Picture: Newsline

Lauren Middleton, 33, and Graeme Digby, 39, who are from Aberdeen, were travelling through Guaza in the south of the island of Tenerife when the tragedy happened on Saturday.

The mother-of-three died at the scene of the two-car collision and offshore worker Mr Digby was rushed to hospital fighting for his life. He remains in intensive care.

The oil worker was believed to be moving to Tenerife to live with Ms Middleton, who had emigrated to Arona in Tenerife a few years ago and was believed to have set up her own restaurant.

Ms Middleton’s devastated friend, Debbie Murray, who also lives in the tourist resort, said locals were shocked and saddened to hear about her death.

She said residents were still waiting to find out details of how the crash happened. She said she had heard Ms Middleton had been driving the vehicle, but this is unconfirmed.

Ms Murray, originally from Belfast, said: “She was one of my daughter’s best friends.

“We were actually back home when we got the news at the weekend, it was really upsetting. I’m shocked because Lauren knew the roads very well over here.

“She was the life and soul of the party, she always made everyone laugh.

“She was always happy and nothing ever brought her down.

“She was an amazing mother and just lived for her three kids.”

Ms Middleton was believed to have been dating Mr Digby for about a year and the couple were said to be planning on moving in together.

He travelled to Tenerife to be with the mother when he had time off work and Miss Middleton also made trips back to Aberdeen where she would also visit friends and family.

Ms Murray added: “I got to meet Graeme when they first got together and he is a lovely guy.

“They were so well suited – it was the first time I had seen Lauren happy in a while. She was so bubbly and over the moon about her relationship with him.

“In the long term they were looking to be together here full- term. It was her world because her mum was here and the kids were settled in nursery.

“It was a shock for us to get the phone call about it.”

Ms Murray said her friend had enjoyed going to the gym and was a sociable person who loved being out with people.

She said: “She was so energetic and always loved being on the go meeting up with all her friends and catching up for lunch.

“She idolised those three kids – her youngest is only three.”

Ms Middleton moved to Tenerife with her three children, aged three, five and 12, several years ago and her mother, Elaine Fraser, and stepfather also relocated to Santa Cruz.

She returned home to Aberdeen at the end of last year and was believed to be planning another trip to Scotland.

Yesterday a family member, who lives with Graeme Digby in Aberdeen, said he was making a slow recovery in the hospital where he is being treated in Tenerife.

She said his father had travelled over to the sunshine island to be with his son who was still in the intensive care unit yesterday.