Family of UK man who suffered a stroke after contracting dengue in Sri Lanka, desperate for funds to bring him home

Family members of a UK resident from Liverpool, Colin Whiteside who was diagnosed with dengue fever in Sri Lanka and suffered a stroke, are desperately trying to raise funds to fly him back home.

According to a report in the ECHO, Mr Whiteside who works as a scaffolder, was due to come home permanently before the tragedy.

Having undertaken some construction work in Sri Lanka, Mr Whiteside had been admitted to hospital with a fever. However, tragically, while in hospital, he developed pneumonia and sepsis and suffered a stroke, the report said.

The 52-year-old, who has traveled all over Europe, has now been diagnosed with Locked-in-Syndrome - meaning he is paralysed and only able to blink.

After hearing the news of Colin's diagnosis a friend set up a Just Giving page, which has currently raised more than £12,000.

"It is costing thousands a week with medical costs and obviously we have no idea how long he will be out there for. "My mum flew out there as soon as she could and my dad's sister is with him too. "We are just trying to do everything we can to get him home," Mr Whiteside's daughter Michelle Green told UK media.