A family received a devastating Facebook message that brought their world crashing down.
David Western had been living in Mongolia for several years, often returning back to his St Helens home to see his family. Having been in regular contact with his loved ones, something was amiss last weekend.
His sister, Emma Western said the family received a Facebook message on Sunday, March 26 saying David had had an accident and was in hospital. After conversations with the British Embassy, the family soon were told the 56-year-old had suffered a stroke.
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Emma told the ECHO: "Last weekend he'd had a stroke and he was found passed out where he was staying. He was rushed for an operation and has been in a coma all week.
"The only contact we've had is with the British Embassy, we can't talk to the hospital direct because of the language barrier so it's really difficult to get updates. We had a bill through the other day for hospital costs of £20,000 so we assume he doesn't have health insurance but we are now at the point where we are trying to bring him back whatever the outlook, we just don't have the communication we need."
The family has set up a fundraising page in the hopes of bringing David back home the the UK. Emma added: "We get updates every other day to say his condition is unchanged, we are assuming he's in an induced coma but his condition is not clear. We asked the Embassy on Friday about bringing him home and we will know more next week.
"One of his friends in Mongolia messaged my uncle on Facebook because they had the same surname, basically saying he'd had an accident. We now realise he's had a stroke.
"Getting someone home is looking around £30,000 and with his hospital bills, we don't have that kind of money. We will do what we can to raise money as a family but hoping if anyone can help no matter how small."
David originally owned a bar before he moved on to teaching English, but the last week has been a "massive worry" to the family. Anyone wishing to donate can do so by clicking here.
The fundraiser reads: "Something terrible has happened and our son/brother/uncle is lying in a coma in Mongolia. We need to pay medical bills and to work towards getting him back home to the UK as soon as possible so he can be treated here with his family around him. We don't like to ask for help but we don't know where else to turn. Medical bills alone are currently estimated to cost £20,000. The smallest amount will help and we will appreciate every penny."
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