Tributes to DJ Craig Stewart who died after attack

Craig Stewart passed away at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Tuesday evening after his parents made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life-support machine.

Relatives of the 25-year-old said he had been in critical condition since arriving at the hospital where doctors gave him “very little chance” of recovery.

Music lover Mr Stewart was attacked in Magdalene Drive, where he was living, on February 10 and suffered a serious chest injury.

Described as a “real family man”, he was only living in the street after generously swapping his Penicuik home with his older brother Russell, who has a wife and child.

Family members, including parents Karen and Russell and brother Russell, maintained a vigil at his bedside.

His cousin Billie Stewart, 21, who lives in Prestonpans, East Lothian, said: “I was told at about 9pm on Tuesday that Craig had died. The family asked for the life-support machine to be turned off. They spent a long time thinking about it but they didn’t have a choice in the end.

“The family are devastated that he has been taken away so young.”

She added: “Craig’s dad Russell and my dad Scott were brothers. My dad sadly passed away five years ago. I was close to Craig when we were younger. He used to come to my house in Leith and we would go with my nan to Penicuik to see him.

“Craig loved music and was into DJing. He wanted to have a career doing that. My sister Kerry was very close to Craig as they were born only ten days apart. I spent time with her on Tuesday because she was so upset.”

Mr Stewart had a girlfriend who relatives said was distraught over his death.

Mr Stewart’s uncle, Paul Kernachan, 46, said: “His brother Russell was contacted at 3am and he went straight to the hospital. His mother Karen was also taken there.

“The family stayed at his bedside and they made the decision together to turn off the life-support. It was a really difficult decision but there was nothing which could be done.”

Mr Kernachan, who lives in the Hutchison area of Edinburgh, said: “Craig had lived in a house in Penicuik where he had been since he was a young boy. But Craig offered to swap houses with Russell, who lived in Magdalene Drive, because he had a wife and child.

“That was the kind of generous person Craig was, thinking of his brother’s family first. It’s terrible to think that if he hadn’t moved then this probably wouldn’t have happened.

“Craig was a lovely laddy. He loved to have fun but he was harmless. He never got in fights or anything like that.

“Craig was the life and soul of the party, a very lovely, lively guy who had a lot of friends and was a real family man.

“This is not someone you would expect this to happen to. It’s an absolute tragedy.”

Police said that the circumstances surrounding Mr Stewart’s death will be reported to the procurator fiscal. A 46-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the incident, and last appeared in court on Tuesday.

The man made no plea or declaration, was fully committed and remanded in custody.