2 Oct, 2019 @ 15:10
2 mins read

“He’s not in a good way” – British expat struck down by driver in Javea still awaiting brain surgery as brother pleads for public to ‘help fundraise’ for his recovery

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THE brother of a British expat who was run down by a driver without a licence last Saturday has asked for help as his brother remains in a ‘critical state’ in a Valencian hospital.

Mark Thomas said ‘any contributions’ to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up to aid brother Luke Thomas’ recovery would be vital and ‘very much appreciated’.

He said Luke, 38, remains in an induced coma as doctors wait for swelling to subside so they can begin brain surgery due early next week.

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SCENE: Luke Thomas was struck down by last Saturday near the Pinosol park area of Javea. (Not by car in picture.)

“He’s not in a good way,” Mark told the Olive Press.

“He’s critical, but only stable because he’s still in an induced coma.

“He needs surgery on a main artery within his brain that supplies blood to the brain and eyes, but it’s currently too dangerous due to swelling.”

Luke is suffering from a carotid-cavernous fistula, which will require brain surgery as soon as doctors deem it safe to operate, according to Mark.

Mark said Luke has also suffered a broken collarbone and ‘extensive fractures’ to his face.

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ANY HELP APPRECIATED: A fundraiser has been set up to help Luke Thomas’ recovery after he was run down last week in Javea

He said their mother and father flew out at 8.30pm last Saturday after learning of their son’s horrific and unprovoked accident.

Mark, however, was coaching his son’s football team at the time, and flew out of Luton Airport on Sunday morning.

The Retford-based family are currently staying in a Travelodge in Valencia.

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MUCH LOVED: The fundraiser reads that Luke is ‘one of the most likeable placid lads you could wish to meet’

“Any help is appreciated, what we are trying to do is leave the fund alone as much as possible for when Luke comes round,” Mark said. 

“He runs his own business, but he won’t be able to work when he comes round.”

Luke runs his own personal training business, Fitness Training 24/7, which he operates out of his Javea home where the tragic incident occurred.

It is understood he will need facial reconstruction surgery for the multiple fractures to his face, which will take time to recover.

Mark said he has met with lawyers looking into the insurance on the driver’s car and ways in which Luke’s business can be kept afloat.

It comes as the driver, a middle-aged Colombian woman, has been released from Denia court on bail on charges of a crime against traffic safety and a crime of injury through recklessness.

A second woman who lent the car to the Colombian, who has ‘never owned a licence’, is also accused of complicity in the alleged crime.

Please click here to access the GoFundMe fundraiser.

READ MORE: Reckless driver who put British expat in coma while driving without a licence in Javea could face up to 3 years 6 months in prison

Joshua Parfitt

Joshua James Parfitt is the Costa Blanca correspondent for the Olive Press. He holds a gold-standard NCTJ in multimedia journalism from the award-winning News Associates in Twickenham. His work has been published in the Sunday Times, Esquire, the Mail on Sunday, the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Sun on Sunday, the Mirror, among others. He has appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss devastating flooding in Spain, as well as making appearances on BBC and LBC radio stations.

Contact me now: joshua@theolivepress.es or call +44 07960046259. Twitter: @jjparfitt

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