Loved ones of a boxer who died in Thailand are calling on the Tartan Army to remember him with a minute's applause at tomorrow's World Cup match. Colin Cairney, 22, from Stirling, was found unconscious on a road outside The Nature Hotel in Phuket's Patong district on Saturday morning. He is understood to have fallen from a tuk-tuk following a reported disagreement with the driver. He was left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a catastrophic head injury but sadly passed away.
Tribute planned for Scotland match
Friends have asked the Tartan Army to arrange a minute's applause for the champion boxer on the 22nd minute of Scotland's second World Cup match against Morocco at Boston's Gillette Stadium on Friday. A plea to football fans circulating on social media reads: "Calling on all Scotland fans travelling to and attending the Scotland game in Boston to help us pay tribute to Colin Cairney, who has sadly passed away at just 22 years old.
"Colin was a talented young Scottish champion boxer with a heart of a lion. He was respected by everyone who knew him and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, teammates and community. We are asking Scotland supporters inside the stadium to join together for a minute's applause in Colin's memory on the 22nd minute during the match. Let's make sure his family know that Colin is being remembered on one of the biggest stages and that the Tartan Army stands with them at this difficult time."
The post adds: "Please share this post with fellow Scotland fans, supporters' groups and anyone attending the game so we can make this tribute as special and as loud as possible. Rest easy, Colin. Gone but never forgotten."
Boxing community mourns
Colin's death was confirmed yesterday in tributes from his boxing clubs, school, and wider community, with those who knew him describing him as a talented fighter and well-liked young man with a bright future. Team 1314 Boxing Club, where Cairney trained under former Scottish champion Jamie Coyle, said: "Everyone at Team 1314 is absolutely devastated by the loss of our Colin who isn't just a member of our club, he is family. His presence, his character, and the memories we shared with him will stay with us forever."
Local reports previously stated that Cairney had been travelling back to his hotel in a tuk-tuk after a night out when CCTV allegedly captured the driver taking him to an ATM to pay his fare before passing his destination. He is believed to have fallen from the vehicle shortly afterwards, suffering severe head injuries. The driver reportedly failed to stop, and Thai police have been attempting to trace the individual involved. Officers previously identified the tuk-tuk's owner, who said it had been rented out to another person operating it as a taxi. Cairney had travelled to Thailand with friends following his latest professional fight in May.
