A British toddler is critically ill thousands of miles from home after suffering three cardiac arrests during a family holiday.
One-year-old Matthew Lee travelled to Hong Kong with his mum, Sophia, and grandmother when he was nine months old.
The youngster, from Nottinghamshire, was due to meet relatives for the first time during the happy family trip.
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But he suddenly became seriously ill with influenza A and his condition rapidly deteriorated, as reported by Need To Know.
Matthew suffered three cardiac arrests, during which his brain was reportedly deprived of oxygen for a total of 47 minutes.
He has since spent his first birthday in hospital, away from his dad and the rest of his family in the UK.
Matthew is critically ill and remains ventilated, although his condition is currently stable.
His family has been told he can travel home with a specialist paediatric team and medical equipment.
However, the complex journey from Hong Kong could cost as much as £200,000.
Sophia said: “We are completely overwhelmed by the kindness and support people have shown us.
“We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who has shared Matthew’s story, reached out and offered to help.
“We are desperate to get our little boy home.
“Being by Matthew’s bedside is the only place I feel I should be right now, and although every day is frightening and uncertain, being with him is what keeps me going.”
Air ambulance charity, Lia’s Wings, is working with Matthew’s family and medical teams in Hong Kong and the UK to arrange the transfer.
Commercial airline options are limited because Matthew is ventilated and has complex medical needs.
The charity said a private aircraft is currently the most medically appropriate option.
The charity said it has entered “positive discussions” with aviation companies but arranging the aircraft remains the biggest barrier to bringing Matthew home.
Sophia said: “We would never normally ask for help like this.
“It is a situation we could never have imagined finding ourselves in, and we simply cannot make this happen on our own.
“Our only hope is to get Matthew back to the UK, where he belongs, so he can be reunited with his dad and receive the ongoing specialist care he needs.
“We are just a family who went away on holiday with our healthy little boy, and we desperately want to bring him home.
“We cannot thank everyone enough for standing with us and helping us fight to make that happen.”
Lia’s Wings said the transfer would require two consultants, a specialist paediatric nurse and carefully selected medical equipment.
The money will help the charity plan, coordinate and facilitate Matthew’s journey, as well as contributing towards the overall cost.
If the transfer cannot take place, the funds will be used to help other seriously ill children and families requiring urgent medical air transfers.
At the time of writing, the JustGiving appeal has raised more than £16,000.
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