Brit tourist, 20, fights for life in Thailand after truck runs over his head

Ethan Lacey, 20, was travelling in Thailand when his family lost contact with him on May 15 - he was later found in ICU after reportedly falling from a moving pickup truck in Pattaya

Kelly Williams Content Editor and Harry Leach

12:10, 20 May 2026

[Ethan Lacey, 20, was journeying in Thailand and visiting his cousin when his family lost touch with him on May 15.]

Ethan Lacey, 20, was journeying in Thailand and visiting his cousin when his family lost touch with him on May 15.(Image: GoFundMe)

A 20-year-old is fighting for his life in hospital after a truck "ran over his head" in a horror accident in Thailand. Ethan Lacey from Birmingham was travelling the country and visiting his cousin when tragedy struck on May 15.

His worried family say they lost contact with him before tracking him down to a hospital's intensive care unit where he has been given a "30% chance of survival."

According to a local news report, Ethan, from Castle Vale, sustained severe head injuries after tumbling from a moving pickup truck at a bustling Pattaya junction. He was then reportedly run over by the vehicle's rear wheel, reports Birmingham Live.

[Birmingham man Ethan Lacey, 20, is fighting for his life in a Thailand ICU]

Birmingham man Ethan Lacey, 20, is fighting for his life in a Thailand ICU(Image: Family handout)

According to the report, the driver allegedly fled from the scene without stopping. Ethan's grandmother, Anthea Chatwin has set up an urgent GoFundMe appeal begging for the public's help to keep her grandson alive as the family grapples with escalating medical expenses and a race against time.

Writing on the fundraising page, Anetha said Ethan's travel insurance had "unfortunately run out". She said: "Ethan has a 30% chance of survival if kept on life support for two weeks.

"[Doctors] are saying it's going to cost us 800-1000 a day to keep him in that hospital. We really need help and support from everyone who can."

So far, the family have raised just over 2,200 towards their 5,500 target.

In a previous update, Anetha detailed how the family had finally located her grandson: "We located Ethan at 5am on the May 19, British time, via a girl he is seeing in Thailand.

"He is in ICU. Unfortunately, his travel insurance has run out. It would be greatly appreciated if people can help with donations to get him home where he belongs.

"Myself, his mother and father are currently on the way over. Any help will be appreciated."

Click here to donate to the fundraiser.

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