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13 September 2011 Last updated at 17:58 GMT
Steve Thomas was injured when he came off his scooter on the island of Phuket A former Royal Marine is in a coma in Thailand after being injured in a scooter crash.Steve Thomas, 39, has had surgery to fix a broken jaw and cheekbone, but remains unconscious as doctors try to remove fluid from his brain.
The family of Mr Thomas, from Newport, have flown out to be at his bedside.
They claim his insurers, Barclays, have said they will not bring him home, but the company said it could not discuss his claim without his permission.
Mr Thomas served with 42 Commando Royal Marines, and had been on the island of Phuket for three weeks studying martial arts.
Continue reading the main storyWe often say - and this does sound clichéd but it's true - that once a marine always a marine... we close ranks and help each other out”End Quote Tony Charles Friend of Steve Thomas His mother and stepfather are with him and back home friends are trying to raise money to fund his treatment.
In a statement, Barclays said: "Because of data protection laws we are unable to discuss the details of an individual claim without the permission of the policyholder or his representatives.
"If provided with the relevant permission we would be fully prepared to explain all details and exclusions with regard to the individuals claim."
Family friend Tony Charles from Newport said he was delighted with the response to the appeal for help.
"By last night [Monday] it had reached ￡1,100 but it's really taken off today and we've even had a single donation of [US] $500".
'Vital tool'Mr Charles, himself a former Royal Marine, said a lot of former and serving marines were backing his friend.
"There's been huge interest from the marine community but also from his friends far and wide.
"We often say - and this does sound clichéd but it's true - that once a marine always a marine. We close ranks and help each other out."
Mr Charles said Facebook has been a vital tool in highlighting his plight and in sharing information.
He praised Angie McCulley, the secretary of the Royal Marines Association in Thailand for her regular updates about Steve, posted online from Phuket.
"He was in a bad way. At first he was in a coma and his jaw was broken in a couple of places.
"His cheekbone was also broken. There was swelling on the brain. It is looking much better now, he's recovering," he added.
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