Scotland fan left with broken back after horror crash in Germany on way to Euros

A Scotland fan is in hospital with a broken back after a head-on car crash in Germany while heading to the Euros.

Gary Ellis, from Dundee, had jetted off from Edinburgh Airport with four pals on Thursday and were en route to Dusseldorf to support the national team.

The 23-year-old was a passenger in a rental Citroen C3 which collided with an S-class Mercedes outside Weeze Airport just after midnight.

He remains in hospital alongside the 25-year-old driver of the car, who also suffered serious injuries.

German police said the Scots used the “wrong lane” after their rental car was driven towards oncoming traffic when they left the airport.

Gary’s family have flown out to be by his hospital bedside as he continues to receive treatment.

His mum Mandy Coleman said: “Gary is still in hospital in Germany and awaiting surgery. We will be at his bedside later today and won’t be coming home without him.

“Words fail to describe how overwhelmed we are with all the love and support we are receiving for Gary.

“Dundee really does look after their own.”

Close friend Graham Pert has set up a GoFundMe to raise £10,000 to cover the Scotsman’s medical bills and pay towards his transport home.

Graham told the Record: “Doctors are trying to decide if they need to operate on him here or if he can fly back to Scotland for treatment.

“His mum Mandy and dad ‘Big Gary’ have flown out today.

“They are a lovely family who would be willing to help anyone.

“Gary is a really genuine guy. He’s got a heart like his mum Mandy – she is always doing charity work and helping people.

“It has been really hard going for the family. They have insurance but everything needs to come out of their pocket up front first.

“I wanted to flip the coin and take the stress off of the family.”

Responding to messages from kind-well wishers from his hospital bed, Gary said: “Thanks everyone for all the messages and Graham for setting this up for me and my family. Hopefully I will get back to Dundee soon.”

Four ambulances were called to the scene in the early hours of Friday. Pictures showed suitcases and Scotland flags being pulled from the wreckage.

Men standing in kilts could be seen behind the vehicles.

Three other Scots, all 23, who were passengers in the rental car suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Mercedes, a 45-year-old German national, also suffered minor injuries.

A German Police spokesperson told The Record: “On Friday, June 14 at 00.10am, a traffic accident occured on the airport ring in Weeze.

“A 25-year-old Scotsman was travelling with four other men from Scotland (aged 25, 23, 23 and 23 years old) in a rental car, a Citroen C3, after arriving at the airport to travel on to Düsseldorf.

“The five men were a group of friends who had traveled to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024. On the way from the terminal towards the exit, the man from Scotland drove in the lane for oncoming traffic.

“This resulted in a head-on collision with a Mercedes Benz S-Class driven by a 45-year-old man from Düsseldorf who was traveling towards the terminal.

“The driver of the Citroen and a 23-year-old passenger were seriously injured in the accident. The three other people in the Citroen and the driver of the Mercedes were slightly injured.

They added: “Based on the investigations as part of the accident report, it is suspected that the Scottish driver used the wrong lane due to the left-hand traffic in his home country.

“All of the people were taken to various hospitals in the region by the emergency services. The Citroen was seized to protect the property.”

You can donate here.

Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.