A British restaurant owner is fighting for his life in a Thai hospital after being struck down by Russian tourists on a motorbike in Phuket.
Ricky Eury, 39, originally from Bristol, suffered severe head injuries in the collision on Saturday.
His family rushed to Thailand after receiving the devastating news that he might not survive the night. They now face medical bills of up to £10,000 per day while Eury recovers.
The 39-year-old was crossing the road in Phuket when he was hit by Sergei Medvedev's XMAX motorcycle. Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, who was riding pillion, were arrested at the scene.
Doctors discovered Ricky had multiple skull fractures, fractured ribs, a broken nose and bleeding on the brain.
The accident occurred on Saturday lunchtime after Ricky had finished lunch following a gym session.
Eury's distressed parents, girlfriend Hannah Ryan and younger brother Joey boarded the first available flight to Thailand.
"When I heard what had happened to Ricky, I worried that he wasn't going to be alive when we got there," Ryan, also 39, told The Daily Mail. "My whole world has collapsed."
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The family endured an agonising wait during their journey.
"That was the longest 24 hours of my life," Eury's 73-year-old mother Annette said.
"When we were in the air, we couldn't contact anyone, so we didn't know whether he was going to be alive when we got there," she continued.
Upon arrival, the family discovered they would need to pay up to £10,000 daily for Eury's treatment.
Eury's friend Solomon Wilkinson, 36, who launched a GoFundMe page, explained: "Ricky has been unconscious so we cannot confirm his insurance information."
"His family had to pay the hospital the equivalent of £10,000 today on his third day of treatment."
Eury's father George, 66, described the moment they learned of the accident.
He said: "I was totally devastated. I could hear Ricky screaming in the background in pain when his friend was on the phone to us. His friend said we needed to get out there quick."
"My biggest fear was that I wouldn't see him alive again. So, after I put the phone down, I booked the flights out that evening."
The family has committed to staying in Thailand "for as long as it takes".
Eury has now regained consciousness and started talking but his recovery remains uncertain.
"He has just started talking but he only has a two-minute memory," his mother added. "He keeps asking if he can get up. And then two minutes later he asks the same question again."
Doctors remain positive about Eury's recovery but have warned it will likely take considerable time.
The full extent of his injuries, including potential brain damage, remains unknown.
Eury is the owner of Gorilla Thai Kitchens in Bristol, which was nominated for Uber Eats restaurant of the year in 2024.
He had been in Phuket since February for Thai-boxing training.
"Ricky is very strong and very much into his fitness," his father said. "The doctors said his fitness will help his recovery."
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Ricky Eury, 39, originally from Bristol, suffered severe head injuries in the collision on Saturday.
His family rushed to Thailand after receiving the devastating news that he might not survive the night. They now face medical bills of up to £10,000 per day while Eury recovers.
The 39-year-old was crossing the road in Phuket when he was hit by Sergei Medvedev's XMAX motorcycle. Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, who was riding pillion, were arrested at the scene.
Doctors discovered Ricky had multiple skull fractures, fractured ribs, a broken nose and bleeding on the brain.
The accident occurred on Saturday lunchtime after Ricky had finished lunch following a gym session.
Eury's distressed parents, girlfriend Hannah Ryan and younger brother Joey boarded the first available flight to Thailand.
"When I heard what had happened to Ricky, I worried that he wasn't going to be alive when we got there," Ryan, also 39, told The Daily Mail. "My whole world has collapsed."
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The family endured an agonising wait during their journey.
"That was the longest 24 hours of my life," Eury's 73-year-old mother Annette said.
"When we were in the air, we couldn't contact anyone, so we didn't know whether he was going to be alive when we got there," she continued.
Upon arrival, the family discovered they would need to pay up to £10,000 daily for Eury's treatment.
Eury's friend Solomon Wilkinson, 36, who launched a GoFundMe page, explained: "Ricky has been unconscious so we cannot confirm his insurance information."
"His family had to pay the hospital the equivalent of £10,000 today on his third day of treatment."
Eury's father George, 66, described the moment they learned of the accident.
He said: "I was totally devastated. I could hear Ricky screaming in the background in pain when his friend was on the phone to us. His friend said we needed to get out there quick."
"My biggest fear was that I wouldn't see him alive again. So, after I put the phone down, I booked the flights out that evening."
The family has committed to staying in Thailand "for as long as it takes".
Eury has now regained consciousness and started talking but his recovery remains uncertain.
"He has just started talking but he only has a two-minute memory," his mother added. "He keeps asking if he can get up. And then two minutes later he asks the same question again."
Doctors remain positive about Eury's recovery but have warned it will likely take considerable time.
The full extent of his injuries, including potential brain damage, remains unknown.
Eury is the owner of Gorilla Thai Kitchens in Bristol, which was nominated for Uber Eats restaurant of the year in 2024.
He had been in Phuket since February for Thai-boxing training.
"Ricky is very strong and very much into his fitness," his father said. "The doctors said his fitness will help his recovery."
Find Out More...