THE parents of a Torquay schoolboy seriously injured in a freak skiing accident are maintaining a vigil at his bedside in a French hospital.

Kieran Brooks, 14, from Newton Abbot, was on a half-term skiing trip in the French Alps resort of Chatel with Torbay Boys' Grammar School when the accident happened as he was trying to get off a chair lift.

Yesterday he was still in a coma with parents Nick and Cindy Brooks at his bedside.

His aunt and uncle, who had been skiing in another resort nearby, rushed to Annecy hospital as soon as they learnt of the incident.

They are returning with Kieran's younger sister Zoe who had also been at the hospital following the accident on Wednesday last week.

Headteacher Roy Pike said: "At the moment Kieran remains in a coma in Annecy hospital where his mum and dad are keeping vigil. Kieran is fighting for his life."

Today, students who were in the group and others on the ski trip to the Portes du Soleil resort of Chatel were back at school where counselling was available.

Mr Pike informed every parent with children at his school of the accident.

In his letter he said Kieran's parents were with the 14-year-old and that pupils on the trip had been informed of their friend's accident.

His letter also confirmed French police comments that some of the youngsters on the skiing party had been interviewed by French police and video footage of the incident captured on mobile phones had been taken as part of the investigation.

Mr Pike's letter also asked pupils and parents not to 'make communication about the incident through any media channel such as Facebook in deference and respect for Kieran and his family'.

He told the Herald Express: "Up to lunchtime on Wednesday Kieran was having the time of his life.

"Then a catalogue of misfortunes on the ski lift led to an horrific accident and he was airlifted to hospital.

"I'm told he was having a great time and that the accident itself was nothing less than freakish."

Mr Pike added: "This is every parent's worst nightmare.

"We cannot imagine how awful the past few days have been.

"Of course Mr and Mrs Brooks and Kieran are in our thoughts and our prayers."

It is understood that attempts will be made to try to bring Kieran back to the UK later this week.

Mr Pike added: "The family's ordeal continues but they hope to fly him home next week whatever happens.

"They had tried to bring him out of his induced coma but that did not work and he remains in an induced coma.

"I understand they are conducting further scans and a specialist is working with the team at the hospital.

"At one stage it was looking very grave but the specialist has held out a ray of hope."

He confirmed that the ski party had returned a day early.

He said all were shocked and devastated by the tragedy.

Mr Pike added: "On returning to school today there will be assemblies where we shall reflect on all that has happened and do the only thing we can at this tragic time which is to think of and pray for Kieran and his parents.

"We will be getting together the group of about 70 boys and teachers who were on the trip.

"Those boys who are close to Kieran were clearly very distressed.

"They can't believe how it happened. Counselling will be available to them if they wish."

Some parents raised concerns about not being given exact details of the incident.

One father, who did not want to be named, said: "We heard they were coming home early because the weather was bad, which seemed odd as there was nothing on the internet about bad weather in France.

"I spoke to my son on his mobile and he was very vague about what was going on.

"I tried to ring my son again, but couldn't get through.

"My lad is quite upset about the whole thing."

Another parent said: "We had a message to get to the school at 5am on Saturday morning as the boys were coming home early."

Mr Pike said the investigation team in France was still trying to ascertain how the accident happened.

It is believed Kieran's backpack strap got caught in the L'Echo Alpin chair lift.

As the lift was coming back down the mountain, it is believed he tried to jump off the lift and his clothes and backpack strap were pulled up to his neck.

The school has offered to send a French speaking teacher and counsellor out to help the family.