A HOLIDAY company rep from Southampton was fighting for his life last night after falling from a balcony at one of Europe’s most popular holiday resorts.

Lian Connis, 31, was given emergency treatment at a Spanish hospital for serious head injuries, a fractured pelvis, a broken leg and a punctured lung.

His distraught family were due to fly out to Gran Canaria this morning to hold a bedside vigil as he lies in an induced coma.

The Daily Echo understands that Lian, who has worked as a rep for Thomas Cook since February last year, fell after attempting to climb up to the balcony of the apartment where he was staying, after losing his keys.

He was rushed to Hospital Insular, in the Gran Canarian capital Las Palmas, after being found unconscious outside the apartment on Sunday night.

Saints fan Lian had been living in the resort of Puerto Rico, in the southwest part of the popular holiday island, since being posted there in March.

Lian’s sister, Lauren, 21, who lives with parents Lyn, 59, and Chris, 58, in Fritham Road, Harefield, told the Daily Echo that the ordeal has been “terrifying”.

The family set up a group on Facebook after Lian was initially reported missing by work colleagues in the Canary Islands on Monday.

But the family received a call from Thomas Cook staff yesterday giving them the shattering news that the former Itchen College student was “in a bad way” in intensive care.

Lauren, who used to work for rival travel firm Thomson, said: “It was a horrible phone call to have. Obviously we were relieved that he had been found and that he was alive, but at the same time we are worried sick about him because he’s in intensive care.

“We just want him to recover and to be safe. We are all praying that everything is going to be all right.”

Lauren said that her parents had last spoken to Lian at the weekend after he won the company’s holiday rep of the month award.

She added: “Lian absolutely loves his job. He was unemployed before he joined Thomas Cook and this job was the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“We only spoke to him on Saturday. He was so happy and full of life because he had won rep of the month.

“The next thing we know we get a call from Thomas Cook saying that police are searching for him and no one knew where he was. It was terrifying.

“It’s all been very emotional, but when something like this happens, you just live on hope.

That’s all you can go on.”

A spokesman for Thomas Cook UK and Ireland said: “Lian Connis is a valued member of our Gran Canaria resort team and we’re giving our full support to him, his family and colleagues while he is in hospital.

“We wish him the speediest of recoveries.”