A BACKPACKER seriously injured in a Thailand road crash has now left hospital.

Ryan Elson has been “overwhelmed” by support shown by people from Wantage and Grove.

Wantage carpenter Mr Elson, below, was left in a coma after a moped accident on August 1 and friends and family have been rallying around to raise money to pay for his treatment.

The 29-year-old, who did not buy travel insurance, could come home this weekend but it depends on meetings with doctors later this week.

Last night more than £7,000 had been raised by the town before fundraising events had even started.

His mum Sharon, who has been in Thailand for two weeks, said: “If I live to be 1,000 years old I will never be able to thank people enough.

“It’s not just about the money. It’s about the fact that people care about our son. He is a bit overwhelmed by it. He is aware what people are doing and he is very, very grateful.

“Until he gets home he cannot really express to people how grateful he is. He has still not totally come to terms with what has happened to him.”

She added: “We are all desperate to get back.”

His dad Rob said: “At the moment we are in a bit of a limbo. It all hangs on what these doctors say. It is a bit stressful but we will have to deal with it.”

He said medical costs were likely to be double the £10,000 the family originally thought.