Ayr soldier critical after attack

Aug 14 2009 by Lisa Boyle

A SOLDIER from Ayr is fighting for his life after being attacked in Canada.

Christopher Cunningham, 27, was assaulted on the military base he was staying at in the early hours of August 2.

His parents and girlfriend are believed to have flown to Canada to be by his bedside.

The young dad-of-one was on a training exercise with his regiment, The 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards, when he sustained a critical head injury.

He is now in Calgary Hospital after the incident at the Canadian Forces Base at Suffield, Alberta.

A source said: “Apparently Christopher was in bed and heard people fighting outside.

“He went out to find out what was going on and to split it up but he was attacked.

“It was supposedly a soldier in his own battalion that assaulted him.

“His mum, dad and girlfriend have all flown out to be at his bedside.”

Members of the British military police have teamed up with Canadian forces military police and Mounties to investigate the aggravated assault, which it is understood took place at around 5am.

The Army press office confirmed on Tuesday morning that Christopher remains in a critical condition.