Young Scots footie star to cycle to Munich just 7 months after horror car crash

A TEENAGER is to cycle from Hampden to Munich in time for the Euros — just seven months after fighting for his life following a horrific car accident.

Ethan Walker, 18, was airlifted to a hospital in New York in September after being left with catastrophic injuries, including two brain haemorrhages, multiple broken bones and the complete dislocation of his right knee.

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The lad, originally from Ellon in Aberdeenshire, was on a college football scholarship at the time but has now returned to Scotland after six weeks of intensive care and has now set himself the mammoth challenge as he returns to full fitness.

He said: “It’s me wanting to achieve everything I can and it really helps challenge me mentally and physically. I don’t have a ticket, but being in Munich for the opening game is enough for me.”

College friend Benjamin Bacon set up a fundraising appeal to raise $50,000 towards the cost of Ethan’s treatment.

Following his return to Scotland, Ethan was referred to orthopaedic surgeon Professor Gordon Mackay, who gave the aspiring footballer the challenge to cycle for the opening game of the Euros.

The surgeon, along with Tartan Army foot soldier Stephen Collie and filmmaker Martyn Robertson, will join Ethan as he leaves Hampden Park on June 1.

They will cycle to Newcastle, hop on a ferry to the Netherlands, before hitting the pedals on to Munich, covering nearly 7,500 miles in total.

Ethan is aiming to lace up his boots once again when he restarts college in August.

Scotland’s first game of the tournament is the curtain-raiser against hosts Germany on June 14 at the Allianz Arena.

Steve Clarke‘s men then play Switzerland five days later before the final group game against Hungary on June 23.

Meanwhile, Germany is set to relax its uber-strict noise laws in time for the Euros.

Under the bizarre rules, ultimately enforceable with jail, neighbours are required to report anyone making noise at lunchtime, late at night – or anytime on a Sunday.

The laws would normally ban footie fans from crowding together to watch late games in bars and beer gardens – or even stadia – unless they stood practically in silence.

But German authorities have now signed off on a one-month exemption for the Euros, where up to 100,000 Tartan Army foot soldiers could descend in June.

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