British teen stabbed in Turkish holiday row 'not out of woods yet'

A British teenager is still fighting for his life after he was stabbed following a row about a faulty handbag while on holiday in Turkey.

Callum Copson, from Kennoway, Fife, was attacked when his girlfriend complained about the handbag, which had a fault in it, in a leather shop in Marmaris.

The 19-year-old suffered a massive wound and according to medics, he is "not out of the woods yet".

Callum underwent ten hours of life-saving surgery after being stabbed in the stomach, reports the Mirror.

Today consultant surgeon, Dr Ozgur Basaran, said: "We operated as soon as Callum arrived.

"He'd suffered severe injuries and we had to go in through a main artery. Due to the severity and extent of his injuries we had to operate twice.

"The first surgery took six hours and the second a further four hours. After that Callum was admitted to intensive care and monitored round the clock."

Dr Basaran, who works at Marmaris private Ahu Hetman Hospital, added: "Today we have removed Callum's nasal tubes but due to the extent of the damage we're unable to give a definite prognosis at this stage."

The fight broke out when Callum's girlfriend, Erin Brown, 18, requested a refund for a faulty bag she purchased in a leather shop in the resort.

Staff in the shop began throwing belts, bags and shoes at Erin. As Callum stepped in to protect her, a 14-year-old local boy ran into the shop, stabbed Callum in the stomach and then fled the scene.

Erin told police: ""I asked for a refund and was told that wasn't possible but that I could pick a replacement bag.

"When I picked a bag the owner said it was too expensive so I asked for a refund again and that's when the argument started."

"The shop staff started shouting and throwing bags, belts and purses at me," said Erin.

"Callum stepped in front to protect me and he and the shop owner carried on arguing and throwing bags at each other, when all of a sudden a young boy pushed past us and came face to face with Callum.

"I didn't see what happened but I saw his face and the flash of a blade in his hand before he ran off.

"Suddenly there was blood everywhere. I realised Callum had been seriously hurt."

According to the Scottish Express, Callum's slashed stomach wound was so bad he had to push his intestines back in as he lay in the street sobbing: "I don't want to die."

Callum was rushed to hospital where he underwent two life saving operations.

Doctors still don't know if he will survive.

Mr Copson's parents Eric and Lorraine have flown to Marmaris, to join Callum's girlfriend in a bedside vigil at the private Ahu Hetman Hospital.

Following the attack, a 14-year-old boy, Mehmet Karabulut, was taken to the police by his father who works in the bag shop.

It is understood that the boy has mental health issues.

He was remanded in custody by a judge who has ordered a psychiatric evaluation.

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