Thailand holidaymaker on life support after attack

The family of a father-of- two who had to have brain surgery while on holiday in Thailand say they are desperate to bring him home.

Ashton Jones, 29, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, travelled to Bangkok with two friends on 30 May.

Just days after arriving, Mr Jones was taken to hospital where he underwent brain surgery. It is believed he was attacked in the Thai capital.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said it was supporting the family.

Speaking to BBC Wales on behalf of Ashton's family, family friend Angela Shepherd said the past few weeks had been "harrowing".

"We don't know what happened or how it started, but we think he got separated from his mates. They rang the police who then told him he was in intensive care and on a life support machine," she said.

"We think he was set upon by one or a number of people in Thailand, who beat him to within an inch of his life."

Ms Shepherd, 50, said Ashton had been to four different hospitals and is now at Chonburi Hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. His father, Darren, has flown over to be with him.

"He had a bleed on the brain, and has had part of his skull removed meaning he'll need to have a titanium plate put in," said Ms Shepherd.

She added he had also suffered a fractured cheekbone and broken nose.

"It got so serious that Darren was asked if he wanted a DNR [do not resuscitate] order to be put in place, but he said no thankfully as now he's in a better position and is starting to be able to communicate with us."

Ms Shepherd said Ashton's recovery had been "very slow" but the family was grateful to those who reached out to support them, including a couple who gave Darren somewhere to stay, and helped with translation at the hospital.

"They have been a godsend," she said.

"The life support machine has been removed thankfully, but Ashton still has to be fed through a tube and have oxygen through a tube too. He's still restrained to the bed by his feet and arms because he gets very frustrated."

Ashton did not have any medical insurance in place before he travelled to Thailand, so his family have been fundraising to pay for his treatment, with the aim of bringing him home soon.

"It's harrowing and soul destroying to think he's lying there and there's nothing anyone can do.

"I've spoken to him very briefly, it was tough, he's desperate to just come home now."

Ms Shepherd added the family had been working with a repatriation company to help bring Ashton back to Wales.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with his family and the local authorities."

The police in Thailand have been asked for comment.