THE heartbroken family of a 20-year-old Brit backpacker who fell off a truck in Thailand have announced the “devastating decision” to stop his life support.
Ethan Lacey, from , was left with catastrophic brain injuries after at a busy intersection in the tourist hotspot Pattaya on May 17.
Ethan Lacey, 20, suffered severe head injuries after falling off a truck in Thailand Credit: Lacey Family
The Brit’s devastated family have announced that his life support will be removed Credit: GoFundMe
The factory worker’s grandmother, Andrea Chatwin, set up a GoFundMe to cover mounting costs after his travel insurance ran out shortly before the fall.
After 10 days fighting for his life in hospital, Ethan’s family have said they made the heartbreaking decision to remove his life support after consultation with the hospital.
The Thai doctors informed them that Ethan’s brain injuries are “extremely severe” and that he would be left “completely bedridden”.
The appeal continued: “We made the devastating decision to agree to stop all active treatment and move Ethan onto palliative care.
Ethan’s family have appealed for funds to help secure a medical repatriation Credit: GoFundMe
The Birmingham factory worker had travelled to Thailand to visit a cousin Credit: SWNS
“We were told there would be no quality of life for him, and that he would not be able to breathe on his own.”
But after signing the paperwork for treatment to be withdrawn, the update says that Ethan is “still breathing and his vital stats remain quite stable”.
His family are exploring every available avenue to start medical repatriation, but have been quoted astronomical costs of “around £150,000 or more”.
They added: “We will not give up fighting for our grandson’s life.”
Ethan had taken two months off work for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Thailand when tragedy struck.
He travelled across the south-east Asian country with his cousin – before heading to the beach city Pattaya alone for a few days.
But a horror accident left the young traveller hospitalised and hooked to life support.
Ethan had been riding on the back of a pick-up truck crossing a busy junction in Pattaya.
Witnesses to the accident said his head hit the ground after falling from the van, before he was possibly hit again by the truck.
Dad Kevin, 40, claims a witness said Ethan was tossed from the moving vehicle during an argument before ending up beneath its back wheels.
The driver allegedly failed to stop and fled the scene, abandoning Ethan in the road.
: “It doesn’t seem like he’s going to make it.”
Doctors had warned that Ethan had just “a 30 per cent chance” of survival after suffering three brain bleeds.
Kevin said the family became worried when Ethan stopped replying for three days.
It rang alarm bells as they had spoken “pretty much every other day” up to that point.
Among the last messages the young Brit sent his family was: “I love you.”
Kevin said his son “lights the room up”, adding: “He’s full of life and always having banter with people.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
