KIND-HEARTED members of the public are being encouraged to support an event in aid of a schoolboy who suffered a serious head injury while skiing in Switzerland in January.

Nicholas Guest had a nasty fall after a ski jump and had to be airlifted to hospital. He injured his brain and was in a coma for several days.

The 17-year-old was on the slopes in Saas-Fee, near the Italian border, and spent a couple of weeks in hospital in the Swiss city of Sion before he was well enough to return to Scotland at the end of last month.

Nicholas was initially treated in Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital but was moved to the Charles Bell Pavilion in the Capital’s Astley Ainsley Hospital last week as he continues his recovery.

A fundraiser for him has been organised by fellow Preston Lodge High School pupil Amy Lumsden today (Friday). The Port Seton Centre event features live music, a tombola, home-baking and more (7.30pm, tickets £5).

A GoFundMe page was set up for Nicholas and his family, who quickly made their way over to Switzerland and have been regular visitors at the Edinburgh hospitals. His older sister Lizzy said that Nicholas, who lives on Tranent’s Lawson Way, was continuing his rehabilitation with physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions.

She told the Courier: “He is increasing his strength and his co-ordination.

“He is trying to work on a lot.

“In bed, he is doing exercises and moving his legs – just to get everything working as it used to.”

Nicholas –in S5 at the Prestonpans secondary school – is due to undergo a scan next month which to assess his brain injury.

The scan will also examine whether Nicholas, who plays rugby for Preston Lodge RFC’s under-18s, will be able to resume contact sports again.

Lizzy said that being in the Edinburgh hospital also meant family and friends were able to visit Nicholas more easily.

She added: “He is actually across Morningside Road from me because I work at the Royal Hospital Edinburgh.

“I’m hoping to pop along more often during my day.

“It is really nice to have him close by and easier for family and friends to get here and see him.

“They are always bringing him stuff and he loves getting grapes and trying to pick them up and trying to eat them.

“He was loving getting grapes and said they helped him with his co-ordination.

“So picking it up was hard because they’re quite small and then bringing them to his mouth was another challenge.”

To support Nicholas’ recovery, go to gofundme.com/support-for-nicolas