The family of a 20-year-old British backpacker who suffered catastrophic injuries after falling from a pickup truck in Pattaya have announced the “devastating decision” to stop his life support treatment.
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Ethan Lacey, from Birmingham, was seriously injured after falling from a vehicle at a busy Pattaya intersection on May 17. The young factory worker suffered multiple brain injuries and was placed on life support in a Thai hospital.
His grandmother, Andrea Chatwin, launched a GoFundMe appeal after Ethan’s travel insurance expired shortly before the incident. The fundraiser was initially created to help cover mounting hospital costs and explore options to bring him back to the UK.
Ethan’s family said doctors informed them that his brain injuries were “extremely severe” and that he would be left “completely bedridden” with no ability to breathe independently. The family said they agreed with doctors to stop all active treatment and move Ethan to palliative care.
In an update shared through the appeal, the family said: “We made the devastating decision to agree to stop all active treatment and move Ethan onto palliative care.” They added that despite paperwork being signed to withdraw treatment, Ethan was “still breathing and his vital stats remain quite stable”.
The family are now exploring options for medical repatriation to the UK. However, they said they have been quoted costs of “around GBP150,000 or more” to arrange specialist transport and care.
Ethan had travelled to Thailand for a two-month holiday after taking time off work. He spent part of the trip travelling with his cousin before visiting Pattaya alone for a few days.
Witnesses told local media that Ethan fell from the back of a moving pick-up truck while approaching a busy junction. His head reportedly struck the road surface and he may then have been hit again by the vehicle.
His father, Kevin, 40, said a witness claimed Ethan had been thrown from the truck during an argument before ending up beneath the rear wheels. The driver allegedly fled the scene without stopping.
Kevin previously said doctors had given Ethan only “a 30 per cent chance” of survival after he suffered three brain bleeds. He added that the family became alarmed when Ethan stopped replying to messages for three days, after previously being in regular contact.
The Sun reported that among the final messages Ethan sent home was: “I love you.” His father described him as someone who “lights the room up” and said he was “full of life and always having banter with people”. Authorities have released no update on the ongoing investigation.
Picture courtesy of The Sun
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Adapted by ASEAN Now The-Sun 28 May 2026