Colin Cairney, a 22-year-old Scottish boxer from Stirling, has tragically died in Thailand after suffering catastrophic head injuries in a tuk-tuk incident in Phuket. He had been receiving intensive treatment on life support after being found unconscious on a road outside The Nature Hotel in Patong district on Saturday morning.
Incident Details
It is understood that Cairney fell from a tuk-tuk following a reported disagreement with the driver. Local reports indicate that CCTV footage allegedly showed the driver taking him to an ATM to pay his fare before passing his destination. The driver reportedly failed to stop, and Thai police have been attempting to trace the individual involved. Officers identified the tuk-tuk's owner, who stated it had been rented out to another person operating it as a taxi.
Tributes Pour In
Team 1314 Boxing Club, where Cairney trained under former Scottish champion Jamie Coyle, expressed devastation. Thomas Donnelly said: "Everyone at Team 1314 is absolutely devastated by the loss of our Colin. Colin isn't just a member of our club, he is family. He is a huge part of Team 1314 and someone who means so much to so many people. His presence, his character, and the memories we shared with him will stay with us forever."
Kynoch Boxing Scotland also paid tribute, describing Cairney as one of the "stars" of their stable. They stated: "We are devastated at the news of Colin's passing at just 22 years of age. Colin was one of the stars of our stable. Inside the ring he brought excitement every time. Outside of the ring he was an absolute gentleman who was highly regarded by everyone. In October he claimed his first professional title over in Hong Kong. Last month he added yet another title to his resume and he had a massive future in the sport."
Stirling High School, where Cairney was a former pupil, said: "We are deeply saddened to receive the news that former pupil Colin Cairney has passed away. Colin was a much loved member of our school community who had a promising future ahead of him."
Boxing Career
Cairney had built an unbeaten professional record of 10 wins from 10 fights, with nine victories by knockout. In October, he won the WBO International Youth welterweight title in Hong Kong after stopping Trijot Singh Bawa in the second round. In his most recent bout, he claimed the Commonwealth International belt with a fourth-round stoppage victory over Taylor Greig in Glasgow. Regarded as one of Scotland's leading young welterweights, Cairney had been aiming to headline major shows and challenge for British honours in the near future.
