Just been forwarded an email by a mutual friend quoting Alec’s sister.

I got hold of the hospital in St Omer . They said he was quite serious but the expect him to survive. He has many problems, spleen (not too bad), kidney (more serious), chest including blood in his chest, many broken ribs and a broken leg. They were about to put him on to a helicopter to Lille where the major trauma unit is.

I (Ed: his sister) went out to tell mother and father and to collect Euros from friends.

On my return I tried to phone Lille to find out how he was after the transfer. They couldn’t find him. Eventually they gave up and I called St Omer back. He was too big for the helicopter so they’d had to take him by road.

He is now in Lille and they have put a drain in his chest.