Hibs fan attacked in Ibiza tells of coma recovery

A HOLIDAYMAKER has told how he made a miracle recovery from a mystery attack in Ibiza that left him in a coma and fighting for his life.

Ben Munro fought his way back to life from a coma

Ben Munro, 24, was airlifted to hospital after suffering a severe blow to the head during a night out with friends.

The city roofer suffered a brain haemorrhage in the assault and received emergency treatment to reduce the bleeding and swelling on his brain.

He spent a week in intensive care before being allowed to fly home.

The trauma to his head was so severe that he has permanently lost his sense of smell.Mr Munro – who had major surgery to repair holes in his heart two years ago – remains unsure about what happened in the early hours of August 13 last year.

However it is believed that a punch to the back of his head caused the bleeding on his brain.

He said: “I heard in a Spanish report that I was attacked by a group from behind.

“I don’t remember anything. I just remember waking up in hospital in Mallorca.”

Describing the moment he woke up from sedation, the Hibs fan said he asked to get a flight home as soon as he ­realised he was missing the Edinburgh derby.

“I got up and asked the doctor if I could leave,” he said. “He just looked at me as if I was mad.”

After nine days in the Palma hospital, Mr Munro returned home to Stenhouse and began work just three weeks later.

He was given the all-clear following a consultation at the Western General and a check-up with his GP.

He said: “I have lost my sense of smell but that’s it. The doctor said I would never get that back, because of the trauma. You can live with that, it’s nothing major. I have had heart surgery, so it’s just another hiccup in life. You have just to get on and deal with it.”

Mr Munro said he was grateful for the support of relatives – several of whom flew to Mallorca to be at his bedside – while also touched by well-wishers among friends and the wider Edinburgh community, who had read about his ordeal in the Evening News.

“My family did everything they could,” he said. “Since I’ve been back I’ve had random people coming up to me in the street. People were stopping me and asking how I was.”

Mr Munro’s family wants to highlight the importance of carrying the European Health Insurance Card while abroad.

They claim the identification – which is the size of a credit card – saved Mr Munro’s life by speeding up his treatment.