£20k to bring home former Midland policeman seriously injured in Thailand crash
A man seriously injured in a motorbike crash in Thailand could be flown home later this month for urgent medical treatment.
Former West Mercia Police officer Bob Anthony was paralysed after breaking his neck in the accident and is in hospital on a ventilator.
Mr Anthony, aged 54, from Kidderminster,was found lying in a ditch after the accident in Pattaya about three weeks ago.
He suffered a broken neck in the crash which left him paralysed.
He breathes through a ventilator via a tracheotomy.
His daughter Nadine has been attempting to raise more than £20,000 to get him home because the family cannot afford the medical fees in Thailand.
She said: "His condition is said to be stable but he is still critical.
"I am hoping we will get him back in the New Year and have provisionally booked a flight for January 19 but need the money to secure this."
She added: "The money being raised will help mobilise former British soldiers who are now paramedics to fly out and medically repatriate my father.
"But before that happens he will be transferred to Bangkok where there are better medical facilities.
"So far we have raised about £12,000 for medical treatment over in Thailand and to get him home.
"An air ambulance trip would cost about £20,000 and I am hoping he could be on the earliest possible flight.
"Our fundraising campaign has had a major boost of £3,400 from the Royal Signals, the Soldiers Charity and the Royal British Legion.
"We are still hoping that a commercial airline might offer a flight at a reduced charge or for free to bring my father home.
"Andy Norris, a close friend of my father, set up a fundraising page through Help for Heroes otherwise my father would have faced being stuck over there.
"We reckon that we will need another £8,000 to bring him home.
"If I could get him home that would be a real Christmas present."
Anyone who wants to help, is asked to visit www.justgiving.com/Andy Norris1/ website.
