A DAD-OF-TWO from York who was left in a coma after a motorbike crash in Thailand is due to be flown home within days - however his wife and children will not be able to return with him.

Chris Moulds, 39, has been in a coma in intensive care since his accident about two months ago near Pattaya.

He moved to the country with his wife Alice and their two children Nicholas, five, and 17-month-old Isobel last year.

As Chris did not have medical insurance his family has had to foot the £1,000-a-day medical bill. Well wishers have so far raised nearly £19,000 of a £30,000 target to fly him home.

Now Chris's mum has said friends have loaned the remaining amount of money and his family is in the process of bringing Chris home within days. However, his wife Alice, who is Chinese, and his children, who do not have British passports, will have to remain in Thailand until visas can be arranged.

Sandra Harper, Chris' mum, wrote on his Facebook appeal page: "After the fiasco with the government offices yesterday, we have taken the difficult decision to get Christopher back, to the care and attention he needs, and then either go back for Alice and the children or they will come on their own later.

"If Christopher gets an infection or something else goes wrong we may miss the opportunity we have to get him back to the UK. We have friends who have generously loaned us the needed funds, so it's all systems go, I will let you know when we get back.

"Thank you again for what we have raised so far please keep this going, and also raising the profile of this case, as it will help others in the future."

Ms Harper, 63, who lives in Driffield, is currently with the family in Thailand. She has spoken of her concern at how long it is taking to secure documents for her daughter-in-law and grandchildren to come to the UK, writing on Facebook that the immigration office has told the it will be "maybe one more week" and that they cannot help further.

She said: "I cannot talk to anyone dealing with processing the visas. I cant believe this is the way we treat people in distress. Frustrating is not the word."

Chris was born at Westow Croft outside Malton and lived in Huby near Easingwold, then Copmanthorpe, and attended Tadcaster Grammar School.

Before moving to Thailand he lived in China, where he met Alice, who he married six years ago.

Anyone wishing to donate to help bring Chris home from Thailand can do so via their funds4us page http://funds4us.co.uk/campaigns/please-help-get-my-son-home-from-thailand-2/

The Facebook campaign page is called Please Help Bring My Son Home From Thailand.