A SCOTS teenager has been left paralysed after his eye was impaled in a freak accident in Australia.

Iain Carmichael, who emigrated to Australia from West Lothian, was admitted to hospital and is on life support following the accident, which happened as he walked home from football trials.

The 17-year-old, a promising footballer, was instantly paralysed after a kite being flown nearby smashed through his eye socket and punctured his brain.

He woke from life support on November 28 and is still partially paralysed, but doctors and family are holding out hope that he will recover.

Iain's father Robert said: "The first few days in intensive care, we were just wrecked.

"We just didn't know what damage had been done and now he's had a few brain scans but it's still a waiting game."

While the right side of the teenager's body remains paralysed, he has been able to give his family the odd smile and a few words.

Mr Carmichael said he hoped his son's strong fitness levels would work to his advantage.

"He's fit and he's healthy and I'm glad he's done all that training to make himself strong," he said.

Iain, who moved from Scotland to Perth with his family four years ago, was hoping to play football professionally.