The parents of a teenager left for dead at the side of a road today appealed for help to solve the mystery.

Stuart Lister, 18, was found with serious head injuries outside Aireburn Garage, Skipton Road, Steeton, about half a mile from his home in the early hours of Saturday. His parents believe he may have fallen from a vehicle.

Today he was "critical" on a life-support machine at Leeds Infirmary. His father, Keith Lister, 45, who lives in Steeton, said: "All we know is he was found at the side of the road with these terrible injuries.

"Doctors believe he may have fallen out of a vehicle because his head is badly injured and he has scratch marks down his back.

"He had an operation on Saturday to release fluid putting pressure on his brain. Clearly he didn't get to the roadside on his own in that state. Somebody knows something. It really is critical that we need whoever else was at the scene to come forward." The former South Craven School pupil, who works at Abbey Art Stone in Keighley, had been out on Saturday with cousin Gareth Haughey, 18. The pair had been to a bar in Skipton and then on to a nightclub in Keighley.

Gareth, of Woodside Drive, Keighley, said today he and his girlfriend had met Stuart in Oscars nightclub at about 11.30pm on Friday. They left about 1.15am, leaving Stuart inside the club. Gareth added: "He was still there, dancing, when I left."

He had been devastated next morning when told Stuart was on a life-support machine. "We don't know what happened and just want anyone who knows anything to contact the police."

Gareth's mother, Myra Haughey, said: "We're just hoping he's going to pull through. I don't know how anyone can leave someone like that."

Stuart's mother, Christine, 44, has been at her son's bedside, along with his brother Jason, 24, and sister Joanne, 21, and Stuart's 15-year-old girlfriend, Sarah. She said: "Stuart's been seeing her for 18 months and they're engaged."

Stuart's brother Jason told the T&A his brother had undergone a third operation to remove a blood clot from his brain. "We are just keeping our fingers crossed."

Police said: "We are appealing for anyone who was with Stuart to come forward so we can help put together his movements.

"There was a white Hackney carriage, possibly a white Toyota Carina, which neighbours said they saw just before 1.30am in that area just before Stuart was found.

"A young, white person was seen in the front. We would urge him or the taxi driver to get in touch."

Sergeant Richard Czornowol added: "Stuart is the key to what happened. But he's too ill to be spoken to."

Anyone with any information should call Keighley Police on 01535 617059.

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