A British man has been left with life-changing injuries following an ‘unprovoked’ assault while on holiday in Spain.
Retired carpenter Marshall Latham was punched as he was walked back to his apartment in Fuerteventura on December 10 last year.
After being punched Latham hit his head on the ground and became unconscious.
Doctors have cautioned that the individual, aged 68 and hailing from Nantwich, Cheshire, sustained a severe brain injury that is unlikely to result in recovery, leaving him possibly unable to ‘walk or talk again.’
Following his transfer to a hospital in Gran Canaria, he underwent surgery to remove part of his skull, a tracheotomy, the insertion of a brain drain to alleviate pressure, and he experienced pneumonia on two occasions.
A British man said to have been held as he tried to board a flight to Glasgow, has been arrested over the incident.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed it is supporting Latham’s family.
His friend, Neil Cooper, who has initiated a GoFundMe campaign for Latham, stated: ‘He continues to fight despite medical professionals informing us, on two separate occasions, that we should prepare to bid our farewells as they doubted he would survive the night.’
Retired carpenter Marshall Latham (pictured) was punched as he was walked back to his apartment in Grand Canaria on December 10 last year
He added: ‘We want to bring Marsh’s attacker to justice and although this won’t change his medical situation, it will allow his friends and family to know that the person who did this has to face the consequences of their actions.
‘Marsh didn’t ask for this, he certainly didn’t deserve this and it was just a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time which has caused him to be in this situation.’
‘Marsh didn’t ask for this, he certainly didn’t deserve this and it was just a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time which has caused him to be in this situation.’
Police in Fuerteventura who have made an arrest couldn’t be reached early this morning and it is not clear if the suspect has been remanded in prison pending an ongoing criminal inquiry or released on conditional bail.
But Latham’s brother-in-law Jim Casey has revealed the man was arrested on a plane as he tried to fly back to Glasgow after being thrown out of a bar the same night as the attack.
The GoFundMe appeal, called ‘Help Us Get Justice For Marsh’, says: ‘Marsh was involved in an unprovoked attack in Caleta, Fuerteventura, whilst on holiday in the Canary Islands.
‘He was walking back to his apartment after a couple of drinks with his friends and was punched out of the blue by someone he did not know.
‘This punch resulted in Marsh falling and hitting his head hard on the concrete floor. Marsh was knocked unconscious and an ambulance was called.
‘Marsh went to the hospital in Puerto del Rosario and this is where he was intubated, ventilated and underwent a CT scan which showed he had two skull fractures and a bleed on his brain, a very serious injury that required immediate surgical intervention.
Doctors have warned the 68-year-old, from, Nantwich Cheshire, has a traumatic brain injury he is unlikely to recover from and may never ‘walk or talk again’
‘However, the hospital in Fuerteventura is not equipped for such traumatic cases as this so Marsh was transferred via air ambulance to the Insular Hospital in Gran Canaria.
‘He is still fighting despite us being told, not once, but twice, that we need to go and say our goodbyes because the medical staff didn’t think he would make it through the night.
‘Unfortunately when Marsh’s sedation was turned off, he did not wake up apart from a brief opening of his eyes and small movements of his limbs.
‘Marsh is currently still in hospital in Gran Canaria and we hope to be able to bring him back to the UK once he is stable enough to fly.
‘His family and friends have started this GoFundMe to help support with his legal fees as his travel insurance doesn’t cover this. We are in the process of appointing a Spanish solicitor and due to the nature of his case, this will be very expensive.
‘We want to bring Marsh’s attacker to justice and although this won’t change his medical situation, it will allow his friends and family to know that the person who did this has to face the consequences of their actions.
‘Marsh didn’t ask for this, he certainly didn’t deserve this and it was just a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time which has caused him to be in this situation.’
The online appeal has currently raised £8,864 of its £20,000 target with more than 170 donations.
Latham is currently being treated in a hospital in Gran Canaria. Pictured: Island of Gran Canaria, Spain
His brother-in-law told local paper The Nantwich News in an interview two days ago: ‘He and Lynn go to Fuerteventura three or four times a year, they have loads of friends over there.
‘Lynn had gone back to their apartment, and Marsh stayed for another drink and was walking home when something has happened.
‘He was hit by this guy, somewhere near a taxi rank, and he has gone down and hit his head on the concrete floor.
‘Witnesses have told police this was a completely unprovoked punch, there was no argument and they did not know each other.
‘All we know is that the man they suspect was arrested on a plane as he tried to fly to Glasgow.
‘We are also told this man had been thrown out of a bar on the same night before the attack.
‘Marsh has never been in any trouble or even had a parking ticket. He was just a chap on holiday with his partner.’
Local councillor Allen Gage said in a social media post on Friday: ‘We need justice.
‘A much cherished friend of mine, a gentleman that would give you the shirt from his back was sadly attacked and put in a coma while in Spain just before Christmas.
‘He literally crossed the road to help someone out – no surprise there. Mr Marshall Latham, ‘Marsh’ to his friends, continues to fight on in a coma.
‘A community fundraiser has been launched to pursue civil justice. Thanks to all those who have contributed.
‘Fight on Marsh, we will fight for you too.’
