THE Government's top intelligence adviser was continuing to fight for life in hospital last night, five days after collapsing into a coma.
Alex Allan, 57, who heads the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), reported feeling unwell at the end of last week before falling ill at his London home on Monday.
While it is unclear why he collapsed, Whitehall sources said they did not believe
"foul play" was to blame.
It is understood doctors are carrying out toxicology tests to establish the nature of his illness.
Scotland Yard said the incident was being treated as "non-suspicious" and confirmed he remained in a "serious" condition in a London hospital.
A Cabinet Office spokesman would not give any more details about Allan's condition or treatment.
His JIC is part of the Cabinet Office and responsible for briefing the Prime Minister on a weekly basis.
Personnel from MI5, MI6 and GCHQ sit on the committee, and the chairman collates their findings and presents them to the Prime Minister and other senior ministers.
Allan was appointed to the position last November, the same month in which his wife, artist Katie Clemson, died from cancer.
Under new rules, he was chosen partly because it would be the last appointment of his career.
Allen was previously permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice.
He is not a typical civil servant. During a rail strike in the 1980s, he windsurfed along the Thames wearing a suit, tie and bowler hat and carrying an umbrella and briefcase.
He came unstuck when a gust of wind blew him from his board near Big Ben.
The full article contains 273 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
