## Welsh Father Making Remarkable Recovery Following Suspected Attack in Thailand
A father from Cwmbran in Wales is slowly regaining some ability to communicate after reportedly being attacked while on holiday in Thailand earlier this month. Ashton Jones, 29, had travelled to Bangkok with friends on May 30 for a much-anticipated trip, but the holiday turned tragic when he became separated from his group in the early hours of June 3. Later that day, he was found in a critical state at Chonburi Hospital, placed on life support after he suffered a bleed on the brain.
Jones, who is a father to two young children, underwent emergency surgery in Thailand. Surgeons were forced to remove a significant portion of his skull to relieve the pressure caused by his injury. His family have revealed that, while he remains largely unable to speak and still relies on tube feeding and supplementary oxygen, he is making what they describe as “very steady progress”, now able to communicate through eye movements, noises, and facial expressions.
Speaking on behalf of the family, a close friend, Angela Roden Shepherd, provided insight into Ashton’s ongoing recovery. She highlighted the remarkable turnaround in his condition: “To give some sense of how miraculous Ashton’s recovery has been so far, his father Darren was asked just a week ago whether he wanted to place a ‘do not resuscitate’ order on Ashton. Darren refused, and within days Ashton’s condition showed significant improvement.”
The improvement has brought hope to his loved ones, but the road to full recovery remains long and uncertain. Angela continued, “He’s managing to speak a little, although it isn’t yet coherent. His ventilator has been removed, but he still requires tube feeding, oxygen and restraints due to the pain he is in.” It is anticipated that Ashton will stay in Thailand for about another three weeks before his family attempts to bring him back to Wales. Once home, further medical intervention awaits, including surgery at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital, where specialists plan to fit him with a titanium plate to replace the missing part of his skull.
Amidst the anxiety and distress, the family has received support from two local Samaritans in Thailand: a British man and a Thai woman, both of whom have provided invaluable aid to Ashton’s father during his stay. “It’s been an awful ordeal but these two people have been extraordinary,” Angela explained. “They found out about Darren’s situation online and didn’t hesitate to help: offering accommodation, transportation, and help with the language barrier. We don’t know them, but their generosity has been a real blessing.”
The circumstances surrounding Ashton’s injuries are still unclear. Thai police have suggested he was the victim of a serious assault, but the details of what happened that night remain shrouded in uncertainty. Angela commented: “The police believe Ashton was beaten, but since he’s only just beginning to mumble and his words aren’t yet clear, it’s impossible to fully understand what occurred. Unfortunately, the chances of identifying the attackers are slim, as are the chances of reclaiming any costs related to Ashton’s care.”
A further complication in an already distressing situation is that Ashton did not have medical insurance when he travelled to Thailand. The lack of cover has left the family with an enormous financial burden as they seek to cover the costs of his ongoing treatment and eventual transfer back to the United Kingdom. A fundraising effort launched online has raised over £22,000, but this still falls short of the total needed for his ongoing care and safe repatriation.
Angela issued a heartfelt appeal on behalf of the family for continued support: “We’re still short of the funds needed to bring Ashton home. Every contribution, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated, and we are thankful for the kindness and generosity shown so far.”
As the Jones family navigates this harrowing ordeal far from home, their resilience is buoyed by the gradual improvement in Ashton’s condition and the solidarity shown by both strangers and friends near and far. They remain hopeful for better days ahead, trusting in medical expertise and the ongoing support of their community.