Latest news with #AshtonJones
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
'Ashton is on his way home!' man stuck in Thai hospital for six weeks returns to UK
A man that's been fighting for his life in a Thai hospital has flown home to Wales. 29-year-old Ashton Jones from Cwmbran was in a Thai hospital for over six weeks. Doctors have now given him the green light, and he returned home yesterday on July 20. Ashton Jones from Cwmbran has now returned to the UK (Image: NQ) Reacting to the news childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd 50, said: 'It's so heartwarming to say he'll be home and on British soil!' On May 30, Ashton and his lifelong friend flew to Bangkok for a lad's holiday. Tragically, just five days into the trip, his family received the devastating news that Ashton had gone missing. He was later found in Chonburi Hospital, where he'd undergone extensive brain surgery. Investigations are being carried out by the Thai authorities, and it is still unclear what led to his admittance. Unfortunately, Ashton didn't have travel insurance, and his family were unable to shoulder the financial cost alone. Ashton Jones fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: NQ) Angela has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. She helped set up a GoFundMe to pay for Ashston's medical expenses. Overall, a staggering £31,960 was raised. In an emotional video online Angela shared the happy news. She said: 'We grew up together which is why I've been doing everything I've been doing. I've got good news Ashton is flying home today! 'He's on his way home he'll land in Heathrow tomorrow. He's going to be very close to home so happy days, Ashton is on his way home!' Angela Roden Shepherd Ashston's childhood friend who helped set up a GoFundMe (Image: NQ) Angela has been overwhelmed by the community support. She said: 'I'm going to take this opportunity now to thank each and every one of you who donated times are hard at the moment and you have been absolutely phenomenal the support I've had has been amazing I'm still gobsmacked now.' 'Even just asking me how is Ashton doing? What's the news what's the latest?' At one point Ashton had a DNR in place now he is recovering and getting stronger each day. The GoFundMe has officially been closed, and Ashton is currently undergoing medical treatment in the UK. His story has been a miraculous feat.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran man stuck in Thai hospital for six weeks returns to Wales!
29-year-old Ashton Jones from Cwmbran was in a Thai hospital for over six weeks. Doctors have now given him the green light, and he returned home yesterday on July 20. Ashton Jones from Cwmbran has now returned to the UK (Image: NQ) Reacting to the news childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd 50, said: 'It's so heartwarming to say he'll be home and on British soil!' On May 30, Ashton and his lifelong friend flew to Bangkok for a lad's holiday. Tragically, just five days into the trip, his family received the devastating news that Ashton had gone missing. He was later found in Chonburi Hospital, where he'd undergone extensive brain surgery. Investigations are being carried out by the Thai authorities, and it is still unclear what led to his admittance. Unfortunately, Ashton didn't have travel insurance, and his family were unable to shoulder the financial cost alone. Ashton Jones fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: NQ) Angela has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. She helped set up a GoFundMe to pay for Ashston's medical expenses. Overall, a staggering £31,960 was raised. In an emotional video online Angela shared the happy news. She said: 'We grew up together which is why I've been doing everything I've been doing. I've got good news Ashton is flying home today! 'He's on his way home he'll land in Heathrow tomorrow. He's going to be very close to home so happy days, Ashton is on his way home!' Angela Roden Shepherd Ashston's childhood friend who helped set up a GoFundMe (Image: NQ) Angela has been overwhelmed by the community support. She said: 'I'm going to take this opportunity now to thank each and every one of you who donated times are hard at the moment and you have been absolutely phenomenal the support I've had has been amazing I'm still gobsmacked now.' 'Even just asking me how is Ashton doing? What's the news what's the latest?' At one point Ashton had a DNR in place now he is recovering and getting stronger each day. The GoFundMe has officially been closed, and Ashton is currently undergoing medical treatment in the UK. His story has been a miraculous feat.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- BBC News
Tourist from Cwmbran on life support after Thailand attack
The family of a father-of- two who had to have brain surgery while on holiday in Thailand say they are desperate to bring him Jones, 29, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, travelled to Bangkok with two friends on 30 days after arriving, Mr Jones was taken to hospital where he underwent brain surgery. It is believed he was attacked in the Thai capital.A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said it was supporting the family. Speaking to BBC Wales on behalf of Ashton's family, family friend Angela Shepherd said the past few weeks had been "harrowing"."We don't know what happened or how it started, but we think he got separated from his mates. They rang the police who then told him he was in intensive care and on a life support machine," she said."We think he was set upon by one or a number of people in Thailand, who beat him to within an inch of his life." Ms Shepherd, 50, said Ashton had been to four different hospitals and is now at Chonburi Hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. His father, Darren, has flown over to be with him."He had a bleed on the brain, and has had part of his skull removed meaning he'll need to have a titanium plate put in," said Ms added he had also suffered a fractured cheekbone and broken nose."It got so serious that Darren was asked if he wanted a DNR [do not resuscitate] order to be put in place, but he said no thankfully as now he's in a better position and is starting to be able to communicate with us."Ms Shepherd said Ashton's recovery had been "very slow" but the family was grateful to those who reached out to support them, including a couple who gave Darren somewhere to stay, and helped with translation at the hospital."They have been a godsend," she said."The life support machine has been removed thankfully, but Ashton still has to be fed through a tube and have oxygen through a tube too. He's still restrained to the bed by his feet and arms because he gets very frustrated." Ashton did not have any medical insurance in place before he travelled to Thailand, so his family have been fundraising to pay for his treatment, with the aim of bringing him home soon."It's harrowing and soul destroying to think he's lying there and there's nothing anyone can do."I've spoken to him very briefly, it was tough, he's desperate to just come home now."Ms Shepherd added the family had been working with a repatriation company to help bring Ashton back to Wales.A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with his family and the local authorities."The police in Thailand have been asked for comment.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- 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.
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Wales Online
Man 'arrested' after Welsh dad left fighting for life in Thailand
Man 'arrested' after Welsh dad left fighting for life in Thailand 'It is a terrible situation. Especially when Ashton is so far away, we do feel helpless' Ashton Jones' trip was only booked at the last minute and he didn't have any travel insurance (Image: Wales News Service ) Police have reportedly made an arrest after a Welshman suffered a life-threatening head injury while on holiday in Thailand. Ashton Jones, a 29-year-old from Cwmbran, travelled to Bangkok on May 30 before being admitted to hospital on June 3 having suddenly disappeared while on a night out. His friends spent hours searching for Ashton after he went missing from the nightclub they were in — only to find him in Chonburi Hospital on a life support machine and having emergency brain surgery. Now Ashton's grandmother Beverley Walker has told WalesOnline that Thai police have informed the family of an arrest. She said police gave no detail other than that the man is suspected of assaulting Ashton. Ashton did not regain consciousness until Monday — six days after his admission — but remains bedbound and unable to talk. The young dad-of-two, who is epileptic, has been having fits while in hospital and has been "out of it", said his gran. "It is a terrible situation," added 68-year-old Beverley. "Especially when Ashton is so far away, we do feel helpless." Ashton Jones is gravely ill in a Thai hospital (Image: Wales News Service ) Article continues below Ashton, whose children are aged one and four, did not take out holiday insurance before jetting off to Bangkok and his family have been told it could cost £28,000 for him to be safely flown back to continue his treatment in the UK. The language barrier means the cost of his treatment is unclear to the family but they understand it to be substantial. They have been desperately trying to raise funds for Ashton's care and to bring him home — with a Gofundme page so far raising almost £15,000 towards a £50,000 target — and his father is due to fly to Thailand tonight to be at his side. Ashton travelled to Thailand with a lifelong friend and on arrival met up with another friend. "It was a spur-of-the-moment holiday. Ashton was really enjoying himself, sending us pictures of himself riding elephants." After becoming separated from Ashton in a nightclub his friends spent hours looking for him and eventually found him in hospital. One of the friends is still in Thailand acting as a point of contact with the hospital though he is unable to speak Thai. Ashton Jones with his grandmother Beverley Walker (Image: Wales News Service ) 'We have already put together life savings for medical bills, flights, travel, accommodation to be with him but would never be able to afford to get him home to better healthcare and his family," said Beverley, whose fundraiser can be found here. 'We all as a family are worried sick with fear for Ashton and how we can bring him home. So please any donations made towards getting Ashton home is appreciated beyond words can describe." A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.' Royal Thai Police has been approached for a statement. Article continues below Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
