Family Seeks Additional Funds to Bring British Crash Victim Home

A fundraising campaign is continuing to help bring a young Birmingham man back to the UK from Thailand after he suffered life-threatening injuries in a road crash. Ethan Lacey, 20, from Castle Vale, Birmingham, has spent five weeks fighting for his life with severe brain injuries, and his family is seeking to raise GBP50,000 to cover the costs of returning him home for specialist medical treatment.

Get today's headlines by email

The father-of-one had travelled to Pattaya to visit his cousin during a planned four-week trip. It is believed he fell from a moving pick-up truck before being struck by the vehicle or another vehicle. Following the incident, his family discovered he was being treated in intensive care, where they were informed that life support would need to be turned off.

Ethan’s father, Kevin Lacey, travelled to Thailand to be with his son and has spoken of the difficulties the family faces while trying to understand his condition. “With communication here it’s very hard to know exactly what’s going on,” he said. “So that’s why we’re desperate to get him home for the medical treatment he really needs.”

The family later learned that Ethan had extended his stay in Thailand shortly before the incident. However, they said he had forgotten to renew his travel insurance, leaving them responsible for significant medical and repatriation costs.

Friends, relatives and members of the local community have rallied behind the fundraising effort. A recent fundraising event was held to support the campaign, with volunteers collecting donations across the area.

Family friend Lucy Regan, who helped organise the fundraiser, praised the community response. “Everyone has come together to help,” she said. “It’s been absolutely outstanding.”

Supporter Nicola Campbell said volunteers had been working hard to raise funds. “We’ve been around the streets, we’ve been everywhere that we can with buckets collecting as much money as we can,” she said. “And we haven’t let anyone go past us without tapping them for some change.”

Her daughter, Nelly-May, also voiced support for Ethan’s return, saying: “He should have the same chance to see his family like everyone else.”

The BBC reported that the fundraising campaign continues as the family works to reach its GBP50,000 target. Supporters hope enough money can be raised to allow Ethan to return to the UK, where he can receive the ongoing medical treatment his family believes he needs.

Picture of Lucy Regan courtesy of BBC

Related stories

UK-family-appeals-to-bring-crash-victim-home-from-Thailand

Brit-taken-off-life-support-after-Pattaya-truck-fall

Brit-tourist-critical-after-Pattaya-truck-fall

Foreigner-hurt-after-jumping-from-pickup-in-Pattaya

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 24 June 2026

View full article