A British tourist is fighting for his life after reportedly falling from a moving pickup truck before the same vehicle ran over his head.

Ethan Lacey, 20, from Castle Vale, Birmingham, was travelling around Thailand and visiting a relative when his family suddenly lost contact with him on May 15.

But within hours they discovered he was not missing but in a Bangkok hospital on life support, having suffered critical head injuries.

According to local media Pattaya Mail, the tourist fell from a truck as it reached a busy intersection in Pattaya, around 60 miles south-east of the Thai capital, at around 8.55am last Saturday. 

He was then reportedly run over by the vehicle's rear wheel, leaving him with serious injuries, including a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and facial wounds.

The media outlet added the driver of the truck allegedly fled the scene.

Doctors have given the young man a '30 per cent chance of survival' if he is kept on life support for the next two weeks.

His devastated family have set up a GoFundMe page to cover medical costs and help bring him back to the UK, as his travel insurance has now expired.

The hospital have told Ethan's relatives that it will cost up to £1,000 a day to keep him in hospital. 

On the fundraising page, grandmother Anthea Chatwin said: 'Spoken to mum and dad an hour ago, Ethan has a 30% chance of survival if kept on life support for two weeks. We really need help and support from everyone that can.'

In an earlier post she wrote: 'We located Ethan at 5am on the 19th May British time, via a girl he is seeing in Thailand. Unfortunately his travel insurance has ran 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, updates will follow as soon as we arrive.'

Sharing the link to the fundraiser on Facebook, Ethan's father Kevin also appealed for help and said: 'Please, this could be the matter of life or death for our son'. 

The family has so far raised just over £6,000 towards the appeal.