A British father of five has died weeks after a horrific collision with a truck while riding a motorcycle in Thailand.
Jay Bridgehouse, 32, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of February 26 after being knocked off his motorcycle by the oncoming vehicle on the island of Koh Samui.
He’d ended a call with girlfriend Naomi moments earlier, but hadn’t hung up the phone – meaning she was still on the phone, hearing the sickening impact of the truck colliding with her partner’s bike.
Jay, from Stockport in Manchester, was taken straight to emergency surgery at Koh Samui International Hospital after suffering multiple skull fractures without a helmet.
The operation was considered a success and he was expected to regain consciousness within hours of leaving the operating room.
Unfortunately, the extent of Jay’s injuries was such that he instead fell into a coma after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
He finally succumbed to his injuries on March 18 after suffering a second cerebral hemorrhage and contracting pneumonia and sepsis.
Jay Bridgehouse (pictured), 32, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Feb. 26 after being knocked off his motorcycle by the oncoming vehicle. A GoFundMe page set up by Jay’s younger sister Abbie has so far raised £27,000 towards a £50,000 goal
Jay is pictured in a hospital bed in Thailand hooked up to a ventilator after his horror truck attack on Koh Samui
Jay’s devastated family is now trying to raise money to cover the costs of their son’s medical care, the repatriation of his body and his funeral.
Talking to the Manchester evening news, mum Tracey and dad Dean said, ‘Jay was still in a coma and then his kidney and liver functions started to decline. His organs were shutting down and his immune system wasn’t strong enough to fight the pneumonia.
“From then on, he rapidly deteriorated. We all stood by his bed and watched him slip away.’
The family claimed they took multiple credit cards to fly from Stockport to Thailand on short notice in the days after learning about the crash.
a GoFundMe page set up by Jay’s younger sister Abbie has so far raised £27,000 towards a £50,000 goal.
In tribute to her big brother, Abbie wrote: ‘Jay was in Thailand to chase his dreams for the future. Jay is a much loved, funny and often teasing big brother.
“He’s an avid #ManchesterUnited fan and watched the games whenever he could. He has been known to blast a fake version of #TomJones ‘Delilah’ on the karaoke whenever he gets the chance.
‘Jay was born and raised in Manchester, still very much connected to home… He was often in touch with home and always ended his calls with ‘I love you all the world big sausages’ and ‘I miss you’.
“We are a hard-working family. We’ve borrowed and maxed out credit cards to be here with Jay, but we have nowhere to turn but beg for the generosity and kindness of family, friends, and strangers to help us save our Jay.”
Jay, from Stockport in Manchester, was taken straight to emergency surgery at Koh Samui International Hospital (pictured)
Jay, who has four children ages 13, nine, eight and six, and also cared for a two-year-old stepdaughter, was in Thailand looking for work after taking a trip to the country and decided he wanted to live there.
His family told the Manchester Evening News: ‘Jay was such a character. He loved life, loved fun, and loved family. He was a wonderful father and son and loved by all. Boisterous and a little mischievous, he was always the first to turn up the music at a party. He was always up for a joke.’
Mum Tracey said: ‘When he was a teenager and out with his friends in Stockport he used to kiss me when he saw me and tell you he loved you in front of all his friends. He would never end a phone call without telling you how much he loved and missed you.
“We have been blown away by all the messages of support and how many people have donated on the funding page. We’ve had so many messages from people we don’t even know.’
Jay’s body remains in Thailand while his family continues to liaise with Thai health authorities and an international funeral home in an effort to arrange his repatriation.