A Weston-super-Mare man has issued a plea for help after allegedly being attacked with nail-embedded sticks and stranded in Thailand.
Luke Thornton, 38, says he was put in an “MMA-style chokehold” and repeatedly knocked out in an attack by three bikers on May 20 while on holiday in the small town of Pai, as we reported yesterday.
The air conditioning engineer suffered horrific injuries which led to doctors surgically removing his left eyeball and reinserting it so he could regain vision, but claims he was then accused by Thai authorities of "fighting back".
The dad-of-three says he has been warned of a possible jail term. He claims the authorities have told him he may need to pay £10,000 to avoid jail, having already paid that amount on medical, legal and living costs.
Now friends of Luke have launched a fundraising page with a £13,000 target to support him.
Luke said: "It's quite embarrassing. I've never asked anyone for financial help before.
"I feel like a scrounger, but I have used all my avenues. I don't want to be stuck with no money and prison because I can't pay the courts, lawyers and hospital.
"I'm more than £10,000 out of pocket already and fear it's going to be a lot more by the time I'm allowed to go home."
Luke has so far forked out £7,500 in medical costs, £1,000 in bail money and £500 on legal representation.
He said: "I'm £3,000 into my overdraft and I've never had an overdraft in my whole life. I just want to go home."
The crowdfunder has at the time of writing raised £241 for Luke.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are supporting a British man following an assault in Thailand, and are in contact with the Thai authorities.”
You can read the full story of the attack Luke allegedly suffered in Thailand here.
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