**Welsh Father Remains in Critical Condition in Thailand as Police Make Arrest Following Suspected Assault**
A 29-year-old man from Cwmbran, South Wales, is currently fighting for his life in a Thai hospital after suffering a severe head injury during a holiday abroad. Ashton Jones, described by family as a devoted father of two young children and living with epilepsy, travelled to Bangkok on 30 May for a last-minute getaway. However, what was meant to be a joyful trip has turned into a harrowing ordeal, leaving relatives back in Wales desperate for updates and support.
According to reports from Jones’s family, his disappearance occurred during a night out in the city. After losing contact with him at a nightclub, his friends began an urgent search that lasted several hours. Their concern grew when they were unable to locate him, but he was eventually discovered by friends in Chonburi Hospital, unconscious and on life support following emergency brain surgery.
Jones’s grandmother, Beverley Walker, now 68, spoke to the press to confirm that Thai police have informed the family about the arrest of an individual suspected of assaulting Ashton. The details released to date remain limited, with police providing no further information regarding the circumstance of the arrest or the identity of the suspect. This ongoing investigation has heightened the anxiety felt by the family as they come to terms with events thousands of miles away.
The severity of Ashton’s injuries is significant. Having only regained consciousness six days after hospital admission, he remains bedridden and unable to communicate. Complicating matters, his underlying epilepsy has led to repeated seizures during his hospital stay, making his recovery particularly challenging. “It is a terrible situation, especially when Ashton is so far away, we do feel helpless,” Beverley shared.
In addition to this emotional turmoil, the family faces considerable financial pressure. Without any travel insurance – the trip was organised at the last minute – the potential cost of arranging safe medical repatriation to Britain could reach up to £28,000. On top of this, the continuing expense of medical treatment in Thailand remains unclear due to language barriers and uncertainties in hospital communications, though it is understood to be substantial.
To manage these costs and secure the care Ashton urgently needs, relatives have launched an online fundraiser, which has already garnered close to £15,000 of their £50,000 target. Despite contributions from relatives’ life savings and the efforts of Ashton’s friends, who have stayed on in Thailand to assist with communication and coordination, the family say much more is needed to bring him safely home.
“At this point, we have emptied all we have for his hospital bills, flights and travel, but we simply cannot afford to get him home to better treatment and his family,” Beverley explained. She emphasised the overwhelming gratitude the family feels for every donation, describing the current ordeal as a situation that “no words can truly describe.”
Ashton’s father is set to fly out soon to join his son in Thailand and provide additional support at his bedside. The family continue to liaise closely with British authorities, including the Foreign Office, who have stated: “We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.” Meanwhile, Royal Thai Police have been approached for further comment regarding the arrest and ongoing investigation.
This distressing episode serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of travel insurance and emergency preparedness when travelling abroad, as well as the challenges faced by families who find themselves dealing with tragedy in unfamiliar circumstances. The coming days are likely to be critical for Ashton Jones’s recovery and his family’s efforts to reunite everyone on home soil.
As they await updates from Thai officials and medical staff, relatives and friends are calling on the community for support, both emotionally and financially. The hope remains that Ashton will be stable enough for a transfer back to the UK, where he can continue his recovery surrounded by those closest to him.