Big Brother Australia winner Ryan Ginns' father has been left fighting for his life in a coma after contracting a viral infection in Bali.
Dez Ginns, from Mooloolaba in Queensland, Australia, has been diagnosed with Japanese Encephalitis - a disease spread through mosquito bites.
After getting back from a trip to Bali, the hairdresser suddenly became ill and was rushed to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma.
His friends, who have set up a fundraising page for his family, say the virus has caused life-threatening swelling on his brain, as well as meningitis and more recently other complications including pneumonia.
It's estimated less than one in a million travellers get Japanese Encephalitis in any given year, the NHS says.
The virus is also extremely rare in Australia and "most likely to have been contracted by a mosquito in Bali," the gofundme page set up for Dez says.
It says: "As many of you may know our amazing, funny, larger-than-life hairdresser, confidante and dear friend Dez Ginns has suffered a traumatic and life-altering event and is on life support in hospital."
The page adds: "Dez is in a coma, supported by a ventilator to help him breathe. He is being cared for by the incredible and compassionate ICU staff at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, where he is expected to remain for an extended period.
"It is incredibly stressful time for Judy, his children and family and we are very worried about him.
"Although showing some small but positive signs, it is expected Dez will face a long and arduous road to recovery, with many months of round-the-clock care and rehabilitation."
Dez even spent his 60th birthday in a coma, 9news reports.
Ryan Ginns, who won Big Brother Australia in 2014, posted a poignant message to his dad on his birthday with a photo of them together.
He wrote: "My best mate. I love you with all my heart dad. Happy 60th. We’re going to get through this."
