Female British soldier who was stabbed in Magaluf nightclub ‘had been trying to intervene in a row’

Soldier Sarah Ann Garrity cheated death in a drunken Magaluf nightclub brawl after trying to intervene in a row between the two friends she was sharing a hotel room with, it was claimed today.

The Glasgow-born squaddie, 22, had her throat cut from a shard of flying glass after she reportedly attempted to sort out a problem between fellow soldier friend Sydney Cole and another British pal named only as Deborah.

Cole and Deborah had stopped speaking to each other after a 14-hour alcohol bender and the situation turned violent after Sarah tried to get the two women to make up, the judge investigating the case is understood to have been told.

Cole (right) and Ms Garrity (left) were said by police to have been friends. It has been reported that Ms Garrity was stabbed when trying to get Cole and another woman called ‘Deborah’ to make up

Island daily Ultima Hora reported Londoner Cole, 19, had told the judge before she was remanded in custody on Monday night that a glass she threw on the floor broke and part of it hit Sarah in the neck after her Scots friend punched her in the face and she reacted by pulling her hair.

The third woman said to have been involved in the near-tragedy is believed to have been questioned by police but her version of events has not yet been made public.

Witnesses have told police Cole threw the glass directly at Sarah and not on the floor as she insisted.

She is currently languishing in a Majorcan jail after being told she was under investigation for a crime of ‘wounding with a dangerous weapon’.

She has not yet been charged with any offence, as is normal in Spain where formal charges are only laid shortly before trial.

Sarah, who lives in Middlesborough and is in the Royal Logistics Corps, spent 24 hours in intensive care before being moved to a general ward yesterday after her condition improved following a life-saving op.

Reports in the UK have pointed to the Monday 1am incident at Banana’s Disco happening after the women had been on a six-hour bender, although Sydney is understood to have told the judge they started drinking at 11am in the unnamed hotel they were staying at, before continuing to booze on the beach and moving on to an event at a bar after downing more alcohol in their room.

Sydney Cole was allegedly seen arguing with her friend Sarah Garrity before 'glassing her with a beer bottle' in the shoulder

Sydney Cole was allegedly seen arguing with her friend Sarah Garrity before ‘glassing her with a beer bottle’ in the shoulder

Cole was quoted in island paper Ultima Hora, in comments thought to have been taken from a court statement leaked to the local press, as saying: ‘It was an accident. Sarah and I were very drunk because we had been drinking since 11 on Monday morning but I didn’t want to cut her throat. She is my best friend.

‘We began drinking at 11am in the hotel, afterwards in a bar and then again in the room. Then we went to an event with a free bar and we had shots, vodka, gin and other drinks.’

Rival daily Diario de Mallorca, which carried similar quotes believed to have been taken from the same statement, quoted Cole as saying: ‘Everything was an accident. I didn’t want to hurt her, she is my best friend.’

Official court sources confirmed yesterday Cole had been remanded in custody after appearing in court.

The source said: ‘A duty judge on Monday night remanded the young women in prison.

Cole, 19, from London, being escorted by two Civil Guards to court in the Palma to be questioned by a judge yesterday

Cole, 19, from London, being escorted by two Civil Guards to court in the Palma to be questioned by a judge yesterday

‘She is initially being investigated on suspicion of an alleged crime of wounding with a dangerous weapon.’

It comes after Garrity yesterday broke down in tears declaring ‘I am so lucky to be alive’.  

A senior source at the Hospital Son Espases, where Sarah had been in intensive care, told MailOnline that the attack narrowly missed her jugular vein.

The source added: ‘Sarah is making a miraculous recovery. She’s a very lucky girl. We can’t believe she’s still here.

‘When we told her this she just cried “I could have died, I’m so lucky”.

‘She lost a lot of blood, underwent an emergency operation and it was touch and go she would pull through.

‘It’s incredible how well she’s recovering. We keep telling her how fortunate she’s been because her life was in real danger.’

Ms Garrity has been moved from the intensive care unit to a regular ward at Hospital Son Espases in Palma, the capital of the Spanish island of Majorca. 

The hospital source added: ‘Sarah’s now sitting up in bed, talking, eating and drinking. She’s chatting on her mobile phone with her family.

‘It has surprised us all how quickly she is recovering. Most of all, it’s surprised and shocked her.’

The two female soldiers are close friends who were on holiday together. Witnesses describe seeing a blood bath as Ms Garrity stumbled out of the Banas de Magaluf club where the attack took place and collapsed on the street, clutching her neck.

Ms Garrity kisses Cole on the cheek in a picture posted on Cole's Instagram account

Ms Garrity kisses Cole on the cheek in a picture posted on Cole’s Instagram account

When para medics arrived, Ms Garrity was in a critical condition after losing a lot of blood.

Witnesses also claimed seeing the two women arguing at the bar prior to the attack.

A man named as Suleiman, who was working at a kebab shop next door to the nightclub, described the scene as a ‘bloodbath’ when he saw the injured soldier, who is in the Royal Logistics Corps, collapse outside his restaurant.

He added: ‘I couldn’t look it was so horrible. It was horrific. There was blood everywhere.

‘I could hardly bring myself to look. It was a huge gash, and quite a hole that wouldn’t stop bleeding.’

The hospital source revealed that Ms Garrity’s family are expected to arrive later this week to visit her.

Police are also due to see her tomorrow to take a formal statement. Until now, she has not had any visitors.

Well-placed sources said a decision about an eventual prosecution could depend on whether Ms Garrity decides to make a formal complaint against her close friend.

Ms Garrity, who was born in Scotland but lives in a detached home which has a solar powered roof in Middlesbrough, spoke with her family for the first time today.

‘It was very emotional and we are expecting them soon. The doctors have already told them how lucky Sarah has been. She’s in very good spirits and is looking forward to seeing them.

‘Sarah is a very strong girl, she is a soldier after all. She has been very positive, despite what happened. She just wants to go home and we are optimistic that it will be very soon.’

The attack happened at around 1am on Monday and police have launched a full investigation, with Cole (pictured) being arrested

The attack happened at around 1am on Monday and police have launched a full investigation, with Cole (pictured) being arrested

Cole said nothing as she was escorted into court for her hearing on Monday with her head bowed in handcuffs and wearing the same blue denim shorts and a white denim top at the time of her arrest.

Local reports said she told the judge that Ms Garrity had punched her in the face after intervening in a row she was having with another friend and she injured her by accident after parts of a glass she threw on the floor hit her in the neck.  

Sydney Cole, 19, from London, allegedly plunged a shattered glass into her friend Sarah Garrity’s neck at Bananas de Magaluf club on the Spanish island of Majorca.

Ms Garrity, 22, who lives in Middlesbrough, was found in a critical condition outside the night spot and is in intensive care in hospital.

Police were hoping to speak to Garrity later today in hospital to see if she wants to press charges against her army colleague over the Magaluf attack which left her fighting for her life. 

The alleged attack took place at around 1am in the early hours of Monday morning in the popular party area of Punta Bellena and followed some sort of argument between the two soldiers.

Witnesses described seeing the two off-duty women, who are thought to have been friends, arguing at the bar.  

One of the woman came away from the confrontation with blood coming from her nose, according to the Sun. 

A man who tried to break up the pair said when he went to calm the situation down, Cole allegedly smashed a bottle into Garrity’s shoulder.

He told the Sun: ‘Suddenly ”bang” the other smaller girl smacked her on the shoulder blade with her beer bottle. It was a really nasty hit and the red mist just descended.’

Sydney Cole

Ms Garrity (pictured) was rushed to the intensive care unit at Hospital Son Espases and is in a critical condition, despite her life not being in danger

Ms Garrity (right) was rushed to the intensive care unit at Hospital Son Espases and is in a critical condition, despite her life not being in danger. She was allegedly attacked by Cole (left) who was arrested at the scene 

The incident happened at the Bananas de Magaluf nightclub (pictured) in the popular party area of Punta Ballena

The incident happened at the Bananas de Magaluf nightclub (pictured) in the popular party area of Punta Ballena

A man named as Suleiman, who was working at a kebab shop next door to the nightclub, described the scene as a ‘bloodbath’ when he saw the injured soldier, who is in the Royal Logistics Corps, collapse outside his restaurant.

He added: ‘I couldn’t look it was so horrible. It was horrific. There was blood everywhere.

‘I could hardly bring myself to look. It was a huge gash, and quite a hole that wouldn’t stop bleeding.’

When doctors arrived, Scottish-born Garrity was in a critical condition after losing a lot of blood.

Medics managed to stop the bleeding and stabilise her before she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Son Espases.

A few hours later, official sources confirmed to Spanish newspaper Ultima Hora that her life was not in danger.

Cole stands in a nightclub in Budapest, Hungary. Police have launched an investigation into the incident in the early hours of yesterday

Cole stands in a nightclub in Budapest, Hungary. Police have launched an investigation into the incident in the early hours of yesterday

One well-placed source said after news of the incident first emerged: ‘The girl who was injured suffered a cut to her throat. She was rushed to intensive care and had an emergency op.

‘She’s still very serious but we’re hearing the operation has been successful and saved her life.’

Cole, of the Adjutant General Corps, was arrested by the Civil Guard and appeared at court in the Majorcan capital of Palma to be questioned by a judge yesterday afternoon. 

She said nothing as she was escorted into court for the hearing on Monday with her head bowed in handcuffs and wearing blue denim shorts and a white denim top. 

Cole appeared in court in the same jean shorts and white jean top she was wearing when she was arrested. 

Fellow squaddie Cole was remanded in custody last night after appearing before the judge in a closed court hearing.

Sources at Son Espases Hospital, where Miss Garrity is expected to be moved to a general ward later today from intensive care, said this morning she was ‘serious but stable’ and recovering.

Investigators said they would seek to talk to her as soon as possible about the incident at Bananas nightclub in Magaluf which led to Cole’s arrest.

Sydeny Cole, pictured heading to court in Palma, Majorca yesterday, allegedly plunged a shattered glass into friend Sarah Garrity's neck at the Bananas de Magaluf disco

Sydeny Cole, pictured heading to court in Palma, Majorca yesterday, allegedly plunged a shattered glass into friend Sarah Garrity’s neck at the Bananas de Magaluf disco

Well-placed sources said a decision about an eventual prosecution could depend on whether Scottish-born Sarah Ann decides to make a formal complaint against her close friend.

The pair were on holiday together in the party resort after taking time off to go to Spain.

Local reports said London-born Cole told the judge who sent her to prison late last night that Sarah Ann had punched her in the face after intervening in a row she was having with another friend and she injured her by accident after parts of a glass she threw on the floor hit her in the neck. 

Another social media picture shows Cole (centre) during her passing out parade

Another social media picture shows Cole (centre) during her passing out parade

Local paper Diario de Mallorca said witnesses to the incident had told investigators the alleged attacker had thrown the glass directly at her pal’s head.

Both women are believed to have been under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred. 

There was no immediate comment from officials regarding the remand in custody.

A friend of Sarah Anne’s said today: ‘Sarah’s awake but she’s extremely upset which is to be expected.’

Barbara Nield, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, whose 23-year-old soldier daughter Bethany Bancroft was engaged to the injured woman until recently, added: ‘Bethany is so upset because of what has happened to Sarah. They are not together now but they were very close.’

Bethany’s brother Ashley Nield, 29, described Sarah as ‘bright, witty, funny and caring.’ 

Police sources described the pair as friends. 

It was not immediately clear if the casualty was glassed with a broken bottle or was hurt when a glass was thrown at her, although sources said they believed she suffered a cut throat after a glass was thrown.  

Sarah Ann Garrity, 22, from Middlesbrough is in critical condition in hospital after the attack

Ms Garrity was on holiday with a friend

Sarah Ann Garrity (pictured), 22, from Middlesbrough is in critical condition in hospital after the attack

A source at Son Espases Hospital in Palma confirmed in the hours after she was rushed to hospital that the injured woman was ‘critical’ and in intensive care.

A source at an emergency response coordination centre said: ‘We received the first calls at 12.55am on Monday, about a fight in a nightclub between two female friends.

‘The alert that came in said the incident involved a physical attack with a glass by one friend against another.’ 

An army spokesman said: ‘We are aware of an incident involving two off duty soldiers in Spain.

‘An investigation by the local Spanish police is ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.’

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