Latest news with #AngelaRodenShepherd
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Dad unable to speak after Thailand holiday 'assault' and bleed on brain
Speaking for Ashton Jones' family, Angela Roden Shepherd said the dad is slowly regaining his ability to speak at a hospital in Bangkok, but added he isn't yet coherent A British dad has been left unable to speak after Thailand holiday 'assault' and bleed on brain. Speaking for Ashton Jones' family, Angela Roden Shepherd said the dad is slowly regaining his ability to speak at a hospital in Bangkok, but added he isn't yet coherent The dad has been left hooked up to a machine and fighting for his life after he was allegedly beaten "half to death" and left with a brain bleed. Ashton Jones, 29, had part of his skull removed in emergency surgery following an alleged assault during a holiday with friends in Thailand that left him unable to talk nearly a month later. The dad, from Cwmbran, Wales, had flown out to Bangkok with his group on May 30, but disappeared during a night out in the early hours of June 3. His shocked pals had no idea what had happened until he turned up at Chonburi Hospital, where doctors had placed him on life support. Ashton's friends say he had made a "miraculous recovery" as he remains in hospital care after the incident, but while he is now talking, he is not completely coherent. Speaking to WalesOnline on behalf of Ashton's family, Angela Roden Shepherd said he is "making very steady progress" with the family set to move him to rehabilitation following his "miraculous improvement" after his dad, Darren, refused a "do not resuscitate" order. She said: 'He's making very steady progress. "The next move is to get him back into the rehabilitation place he originally was in before he got a lung infection. To put into context just how miraculous a recovery Ashton has made so far, Darren was actually asked if he wanted to put a do not resuscitate order on Ashton just a week ago. "Darren said 'absolutely not' and in a few days Ashton had made a miraculous improvement. I spoke to Ashton a couple of days ago. He's talking. He's not coherent but he's able to communicate. He's off the ventilator. "He still has to be tube fed and he still has oxygen fed to him, and he still has to be restrained because he's in a lot of pain." Ashton's family aim to return the dad to Wales in a few weeks, where he will receive further treatment at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, including an operation to replace a lost part of his skull with the titanium plate. Angela added that the family, with the help of a British man and Thai woman who are putting up Ashton's father, have also spoken with police in Thailand, who they claim believe Ashton was assaulted. She said he was "beaten half to death", but added that the family has refrained from speculation as the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack remain unconfirmed. She said: "We don't know the circumstances around how and why, so we're not going to speculate. 'Ashton is starting to mumble things but it's too incoherent. The chances of catching them are virtually zero and the chances of getting money back to get Ashton home are virtually zero too.' Ashton travelled to Thailand without medical insurance, and his family is attempting to pay for the costs with a GoFundMe appeal, which has so far raised more than £22,000. Angela said: "We really need all the help we can get. We're still short of the funds we need to get Ashton back. Any help at all is greatly appreciated."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Gwent man fighting for life in Thai hospital has ‘woken up'
A Cwmbran man that's been 'fighting for his life' in a Thai hospital has 'woken up.' On May 30 29-year-old Ashton Jones, travelled to Bangkok Thailand with his lifelong friend for a lad's holiday. Sadly, just five days later his family received the news that Ashton had been separated from his friend and had undergone extensive emergency brain surgery. 29-year-old Ashton Jones from Cwmbran has 'woken up' after fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Now just a week later Ashton's gone from having a do not resuscitate order in place to being able to show basic signs of communication. Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd aged 50 has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. In an emotional post online, she shared the happy news. Angela said: 'Progress is really good for Ashton. I actually spoke to him today which was amazing. 'I say speak I can speak to him, and he can acknowledge. He can nod and he can shake his head and that's purely because he's got the tube going down his throat. 'He's still being ventilated and tube fed but he is trying really hard to speak. He told his dad he loves him, told his friends that he misses them.' Ashton a week earlier fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) When Ashston went to Thailand he didn't have medical insurance in place. So, the family set up a GoFundMe to help raise money to bring him back to the UK. An incredible £22,110 has been raised so far which Angela explained has been going towards Ashton's increasing medical bills. In the video Angela said: 'We've raised an amazing amount of money, but we still have a little bit of a way to go. 'All our medical bills are starting to come out. As an example, the ventilator he's on is costing 60,000 baht a day which I believe is around £50 to £60.' 'That's without his medication, that's without his feeding tube, without the care the staff have been giving him every night he stays in hospital. So, we still do need to keep raising money.' Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Unsurprisingly Ashton's family are relieved that signs of recovery are starting to show. Angela told the Argus: 'In less than a week we've gone from having a do not revive in place to Ashton communicating with us. 'As the days go on, he's not stopping. He's smiling he's chatting he's telling his dad he loves him but it's still not safe for him to fly because of the length of time after surgery. 'The family are over the moon they just want him home now.' A community fundraiser is being held at the Halfway Pub in old Cwmbran. The event is taking place July 5 with all funds going towards bringing Ashton home. A raffle is being held alongside a barbecue and karaoke. The fundraiser will be running from 12pm onwards.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran man fighting for life in Thai hospital has ‘woken up'
On May 30 29-year-old Ashton Jones, travelled to Bangkok Thailand with his lifelong friend for a lad's holiday. Sadly, just five days later his family received the news that Ashton had been separated from his friend and had undergone extensive emergency brain surgery. 29-year-old Ashton Jones from Cwmbran has 'woken up' after fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Now just a week later Ashton's gone from having a do not resuscitate order in place to being able to show basic signs of communication. Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd aged 50 has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. In an emotional post online, she shared the happy news. Angela said: 'Progress is really good for Ashton. I actually spoke to him today which was amazing. 'I say speak I can speak to him, and he can acknowledge. He can nod and he can shake his head and that's purely because he's got the tube going down his throat. 'He's still being ventilated and tube fed but he is trying really hard to speak. He told his dad he loves him, told his friends that he misses them.' Ashton a week earlier fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) When Ashston went to Thailand he didn't have medical insurance in place. So, the family set up a GoFundMe to help raise money to bring him back to the UK. An incredible £22,110 has been raised so far which Angela explained has been going towards Ashton's increasing medical bills. In the video Angela said: 'We've raised an amazing amount of money, but we still have a little bit of a way to go. 'All our medical bills are starting to come out. As an example, the ventilator he's on is costing 60,000 baht a day which I believe is around £50 to £60.' 'That's without his medication, that's without his feeding tube, without the care the staff have been giving him every night he stays in hospital. So, we still do need to keep raising money.' Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Unsurprisingly Ashton's family are relieved that signs of recovery are starting to show. Angela told the Argus: 'In less than a week we've gone from having a do not revive in place to Ashton communicating with us. 'As the days go on, he's not stopping. He's smiling he's chatting he's telling his dad he loves him but it's still not safe for him to fly because of the length of time after surgery. 'The family are over the moon they just want him home now.' A community fundraiser is being held at the Halfway Pub in old Cwmbran. The event is taking place July 5 with all funds going towards bringing Ashton home. A raffle is being held alongside a barbecue and karaoke. The fundraiser will be running from 12pm onwards.
South Wales Argus
19-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran man Ashton Jones unresponsive in Thailand hospital
On May 30 29-year-old Ashton Jones, travelled to Bangkok Thailand with his lifelong friend for a lad's holiday. Ashton Jones who is currently fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Sadly, just five days later his family received the news that Ashton had been separated from his friend and had undergone extensive emergency brain surgery. Ashston is currently in a Thai hospital fighting for his life. Because he didn't have any travel insurance his family have set up a GoFundMe to bring him home. Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd aged 50 has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. Woman's relief after motorbike crash victim father is returned home to Wales Six pets looking for their forever home from Many Tears Rescue 'Look after yourself' Gwent carers speak out on National Carers Week Speaking about Ashton's condition she said: 'There are a few pictures circulating that are making it look like Ashton is well but he's still being ventilated and still extremely ill. 'He's non communicative and is pretty much unresponsive he's very poorly.' Angela explained the Thai authorities have been carrying out an investigation. Ashston Jones's childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) 'He's got a good lawyer who speaks brilliant English and is very supportive on our side in bringing justice. 'Nobody has been arrested yet, but they are looking for four people and it looks like they are Thai nationals.' Despite the heartbreaking circumstances Ashton's family find themselves in the family are blown away by the levels of support they've received both locally and internationally. Angela told the Argus: 'It is really important that the people out there release how grateful we are. We've had people in Scotland and Ireland donate and the post is being shared nationally. 'The support has been overwhelming, and Bev (Ashton's grandmother) can't comprehend how these strangers are supporting her grandson.' Ashton Jones who is currently fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Ashton on ventilation) (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) The family are still in the dark about why Ashton got separated from his friends. A fundraiser in Cwmbran is being held on July 5, the family are in the process of organising and finalising details. A spokesperson for The Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.' Out of the £50,000 goal a staggering £20,522 has been raised to help bring Ashton home.
