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North skiing fan in fight for life

Feb 21 2010 by Brian Daniel, Sunday Sun

Asher was skiing with six friends when the accident happened.

Heather, 68, a former leader of the now defunct Alnwick District Council, said: “Accidents can happen to anybody.

“He was wearing a back protector which probably stopped him breaking his back but he was not wearing a helmet.”

Asher was briefly unconscious after hitting the rock and was airlifted to hospital in the capital, Bern, where he is now in a heavy duty collar waiting for the op.

Heather said: “They are extremely good but it is a question of watching, waiting and they make the decisions.

“For me that is quite frightening, no one can tell me what is going to happen next.”

But she added: “He is quipping with everybody. He would rather be skiing than lying in bed but I would say he is in very good spirits.”

Heather and husband John, 67, also a retired teacher, flew to Switzerland to be with him the day after the accident.

The accident came just after the first anniversary of the death of Eilidh, 30, who lived in London.

Her parents shared a quiet day on the actual anniversary, attending a hockey match held in Eilidh’s honour at her former school in Alnwick, Duchess’s High - where Heather taught, in which her former teammates played against the current side last weekend.

Some of Eilidh’s friends in London visited the accident site and laid flowers.

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