fbpx
Connect with us
https://propermanchester.com.temp.link/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/secret-suppers-advert.jpg

News

Heartbroken family set up fundraiser to bring son home as he fights for his life abroad

The dad-of-five from Stockport was on the trip of a lifetime

Avatar photo

Published

on

Family handout

A mother has spoken of her family’s anguish as her son is fighting for his life in a hospital bed abroad after a horrific motorcycle crash. 

Jay Bridgehouse, a dad-of-five from Stockport, was on the trip of a lifetime ‘to chase his dreams’ with his girlfriend Naomi in Thailand before he collided with a pick-up truck on the evening Friday February 25th, at around 8.30pm (UK time).

His family claim the driver was travelling at speed when the crash happened, while Jay, 32, was riding his motorbike without a helmet. He was immediately rushed to the Koh Samui International Hospital, where he currently remains in a critical condition.

Jay had been on the phone to Naomi and forgot to end the call properly just moments before, meaning she had to endure hearing the horrific collision. His family back home received the heartbreaking news from over 5,000 miles away.

Family handout

Jay was taken into life-saving surgery to remove a bleed on his brain and suffered multiple skull and facial fractures, as well as to his body. Doctors expected him to come round after the emergency surgery within four to six hours but he slipped into a coma.

His parents are out there by his side along with other family members as they hope and pray for Jay to pull through. Following the surgery, Jay developed a second bleed on the brain and then caught pneumonia.

He is now hooked-up to a ventilator as he is unable to breathe independently. Recent CT scans and tests have revealed that Jay has minimal brain activity due to infarctions throughout his brain. His family said the first round of surgery led to an infection in his brain which has since spread into his bloodstream causing him to now develop sepsis.

Family handout

His medical bills currently stand at £10,000 with costs racking up daily and his family desperate to bring him home. The British Consulate helped to secure emergency travel documents and passports so Jay’s family could fly to Thailand and be with him.

But in order to bring him back to the UK for further treatment and a medical evacuation while he is reliant on a ventilator, his family say it’s estimated to cost around £32,000. Jay’s sister Abbie Bridgehouse has set up a Go Fund Me page and the family have urged the public to help with any small donation they can to help bring their boy home and get him a medical evaluation.

Jay’s sister Abbie has described him as a ‘fun loving, and often teasing, big brother’. She said: “He is an avid Manchester United fan and watched the games whenever he could. He has been known to blast out an out of tune version of Tom Jones ‘Delilah’ on the karaoke whenever he had the chance.

Google Maps

“Jay is Manchester born and bred, still very connected with home, top of his playlist is Aitch, the rapper from Moston, Manchester. He was in contact with home often and always ended his calls with ‘I love you all the world big sausages’ and ‘I miss you.’”

Abbie said the family have borrowed money and maxed out credit cards’ to be in Thailand with Jay, and now have ‘nowhere else to turn other than to beg for the generosity and kindness of family, friends and strangers’ to help save him.

She added: “We are asking for help to bring our boy home to Manchester. We are asking for help to pay Jay’s medical bills. We are asking for help to sit by Jay’s bedside, so he is not alone while we hold his hand, and he fights for his life.”

Wikimedia

Family friend Claire Parry has asked for anyone who can help to make donation, ‘even if it’s £1’. At time of writing, the Bridgehouse family have so far raised over £21,000 with the help of the public’s donations, with a goal of reaching £50,000 to cover costs.

Part of the donation page says: “The hospital staff have recommended that we go to the public for help and suggested #GoFundMe and have said they will support us with any paperwork, if you’re reading this and feel apprehensive about donating…

“We are asking for help to sit by Jay’s bedside, so he is not alone while we hold his hand, and he fights for his life. Thank you for reading this. Thank you for helping. Thank you for caring.

“You never think something like this will happen to you and, as a family, we thought that too. If you can help, with whatever you can afford, our family will be very grateful. As a family we appreciate any help you can offer in our darkest time of need, but as his baby sister, I am appealing to anyone and everyone to share this. Please X”

 

News

Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries

Fancy a career change?

Avatar photo

Published

on

Stagecoach

Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.

You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.

Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.

As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.

Stagecoach

There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.

Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.

“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.

“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”

Stagecoach

Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.

“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”

To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.

Continue Reading

News

Two men charged with murder after torso discovered in Salford nature reserve

BREAKING:

Avatar photo

Published

on

Greater Manchester Police

Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.

As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.

This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.

Greater Manchester Police


Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.

They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.

While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.

ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.

“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.

“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.

“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.

“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.

“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”

Continue Reading

News

More human remains discovered in Greater Manchester as police identify victim

All the latest updates

Avatar photo

Published

on

N Chadwick / Geograph

Detectives investigating the discovery of a torso in Kersal Dale have found more human remains around Greater Manchester.

GMP released a statement on the weekend, revealing they had opened four scenes for extensive searches – one of them at a warehouse in Bury, and three in Salford.

Searches took place at Blackleach reservoir, where human remains were found, and a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood.

Officers believe they have now identified the man, who they believe to be a man in his 60s that lived in Salford, and his family have been informed.

Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder probe, with officers saying they are thought to have lived with the victim.

Greater Manchester Police / Facebook


Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for this investigation, said in a statement at Blackleach reservoir yesterday, Sunday April 28th: “We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.

“From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.

“Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford.

“Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.

“We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.”

He continued: “We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.

“Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.

“We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.

“While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.

“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”

Continue Reading

Receive our latest news, events & unique stories

Privacy and data policy

We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase

Copyright © 2024 Manchester's Finest Group