A 20-year-old British father from Castle Vale, Birmingham, is still fighting for his life after suffering severe brain injuries in a road crash in Pattaya. Ethan Lacey was visiting his cousin in the resort city when he went missing last month before being discovered in intensive care.
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His family said doctors initially told them that his life support would have to be switched off and that he would die immediately afterwards. However, according to his father Kevin Lacey, Ethan survived after being removed from life support and is now breathing on his own. He remains in a stable condition given the extent of his injuries.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. Relatives said they still do not know exactly what happened, although a witness reportedly told them that Ethan fell from a moving black pick-up truck and that a tyre went over his head.
Kevin Lacey said his son suffered three bleeds on the brain, a broken jaw, a fractured neck and multiple fractures to his shoulder, arm and hand. He added that tyre marks remain visible on Ethan’s shoulders and the side of his face.
Days before the incident, Ethan had extended what was originally planned as a four-week trip to Thailand. His family said he forgot to renew his travel insurance after deciding to stay longer because flights home were expensive.
As a result, relatives are now raising money and attempting to secure personal loans to cover medical expenses in Thailand and the cost of a specialist medical flight back to the UK. Kevin Lacey described the lack of insurance cover as a major challenge but said the family was focused on doing everything possible to bring Ethan home.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Ethan has begun showing signs of improvement. Family members said he has started moving his hands, fingers and toes in recent days after they initially believed he had been paralysed.
Kevin Lacey said Ethan recently squeezed his mother’s hand, providing further encouragement to the family. He added that his son’s progress has strengthened their determination to continue supporting his recovery.
The BBC reported that Ethan is the father of a three-year-old daughter. His family said their immediate priority is securing the funds needed for ongoing treatment and eventual repatriation to the UK, while doctors continue to monitor his condition.
Picture courtesy of The BBC
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Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 5 June 2026