WRITER and painter Alasdair Gray was found by a neighbour after falling eight feet into the basement outside his home.

The 80-year-old suffered a broken back and serious injuries to his legs and his head following the incident in the West End of Glasgow in the early hours of yesterday morning.

But Mr Gray could have died from his injuries or hypothermia had it not been for the swift actions of Marc de Ridder.

The bank employee and amateur photographer described how he found Mr Gray "in a very bad condition" following the incident shortly before 2am.

Mr de Ridder had been in the bedroom of his home within the basement where Mr Gray fell and he went out to investigate after hearing the sound of someone moaning.

He said: "It was very dark, but I discovered someone lying in the basement area, eight feet down from the pavement, obviously in a very bad condition.

"I immediately called 999 and the ambulance arrived, to their credit, before I finished the conversation."

Mr de Ridder said it was only when a paramedic shone a torch on the author that he recognised Mr Gray.

He added: "The paramedics called for assistance from the fire brigade due to the difficulty with access to the basement, with the immediate access being to climb out through our bedroom windows.

"Alasdair was stabilised and the fire men moved him, with some difficulty, with the stretcher to the ambulance. We contacted various friends within the art community who immediately assisted generously with assisting the police to contact Alasdair's relatives."

Mr de Ridder's partner Lyn described him as "the hero of this near tragedy who rescued Alasdair from hypothermia and near worse".

The author, who lives alone, was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where his injuries were described as non life threatening.

His son Andrew, who lives in the US, has been informed and is flying to Scotland.  Mr Gray's wife, Morag McAlpine, passed away last year.

A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed that at 1.50am they were called to an incident with an 80-year-old man in the west end of Glasgow. They said inquiries were continuing.

The author of Lanark and painter of murals is one of

Scotland's finest post-war painters and writers. A major new production of his epic novel Lanark is due to be staged at the Edinburgh
International Festival.

The near four-hour-long show, making its world debut at the festival, is due to run at the Royal Lyceum theatre from August 23-31.
Mr Gray has created a series of murals, including one on the ceiling of the Oran Mor pub.