Bradford teacher in a coma after attack in Thailand (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford teacher in a coma after attack in Thailand

2:06pm Friday 25th May 2012 in News

A Bradford teacher has been left fighting for life in a Thai hospital after he was attacked in the street with an iron bar.

Adam Pickles, 40, a former pupil at Bradford Grammar School pupil, has been left in a coma after needing emergency brain surgery.

His friends and family are rallying to raise hospital fees of more than £2,000 a day to care for Mr Pickles, who has been working as head of English at the Regent’s International School in Thailand, and became a father only eight months ago.

Friends said he was attacked and left for dead while making his way home after playing pool at a bar.

He was found by a passer-by and rushed to hospital.

It is believed the attacker was a Westerner and the hunt for him is continuing by police.

His parents have flown from their Leeds home to be at his bedside.

His father Andrew said: “All of the family would like to say a big thank you to all of Adam’s friends for their fantastic messages and support.

“I know one thing for certain, if anyone in this world is capable of fighting and overcoming this, it is Adam.

“Our love and thanks to you all.”

More than 4,000 people have joined a Facebook group set up to raise the fees and bring Mr Pickles back to the UK, which is expected to cost at least £70,000.

The page triggered pledges of more than £10,000 in 48 hours, some from people who have never met Adam, with hundreds of messages posted from friends, strangers and former pupils.

Friends said last year Adam had missed the birth of his baby son Benjamin, after a motorbike crash left him in a coma and needing extensive surgery to rebuild his face.

His close friend, Neil Clappison, of Leeds, said: “It feels completely unreal that this is happening to Adam after all he went through last year. It was horrendous for him to miss the birth of his beautiful son, so what is happening now seems almost unbelievable.

“But while it feels like a nightmare, this really is happening. We are doing everything we can to raise the money needed to ensure Adam survives and then to bring him home.

“The fact 3,500 people, some of whom have never met Adam, have signed up to support him in less than a week shows what an amazing person he is.”

To view the Facebook page visit facebook.com/groups/adampickles