A SOLDIER left fighting for his life after an alleged pickaxe attack is to receive a visit from his two-year-old son in a bid to revive him.

Lance Corporal Konrad Bisping, 26, from Clitheroe, was injured during manoeuvres with the 1st Battalion of the Queens Lancs Regiment on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

A 17-year-old private from Blackburn appeared in court yesterday charged with attempted murder.

Doctors at Southampton General Hospital are waiting to see how Konrad, who was left with the pickaxe embedded in his head, reacts to surgery performed yesterday. His condition was still 'critical but stable' today and he is unconscious. But doctors hope they may be able to bring him around on Sunday.

And his family, from Clitheroe, want his two-year-old son Declan to be at his bedside.

Brother Adam,18, said: "Even if he is able to be brought round at the weekend, the time after that is crucial to his recovery.

"All the family believes the best thing for him will be to see his son Declan so he can fight for his sake. He's so devoted to his son.

"We want Declan to be there so when they try to revive Konrad he knows his son is in the room and Declan is the first person he sees."

Konrad was leading a platoon of soldiers on an exercise codenamed Wessex Warrior -- preparing for the possibility of war with Iraq -- when the incident took place.

He was initially airlifted to Salisbury Hospital on Tuesday afternoon and then transferred to the neurological unit in Southampton for emergency surgery.

The 17-year-old private, who can not be named for legal reasons, was remanded him in custody by North Wiltshire Magistrates yesterday. He is due to appear before a youth court on Tuesday, January 21 where the case is expected to be committed to Crown Court.

He appeared at the court in Chippenham, Wiltshire, wearing camouflage combat fatigues. No application for bail was made.

Adam said he, father Jan and two of Konrad's best friends hoped to make the journey down to Southampton on Sunday.

Mother Kathleen and Konrad's wife Claire, who he married just two months ago and lives with him in Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, are in Southampton along with two of his sisters Maxine, 18, and Shrien, 17. They are keeping the family in Clitheroe constantly updated.

Adam said: "The doctors hope he is over the worst but we will not know for sure and have to see how he is over the next few days. We can't understand how something like this happened -- Konrad is a such popular lad, not only in the Army but in Clitheroe as well. We've had lots of phone calls and people coming up to us wishing us the best."

Staff and pupils at Konrad's former school, St Augustine's RC High School, Billington, have been saying prayers wishing Konrad a speedy recovery.

Head teacher Anthony McNamara said: "Staff always had a lot of time for Konrad and are deeply shocked and saddened at what has happened.

"Teachers at the school were briefed on the matter and they informed pupils, who have been saying prayers for the stricken soldier."