Tharel Thompson: Thousands raised for Reading stab victim's treatment
- Published
Tharel Thompson had travelled to the UK from Barbados for a holiday to visit family
The mother of a man left in a critical condition after being stabbed while visiting the UK has raised thousands of pounds to pay his hospital bill.
Barbados national Tharel Thompson was attacked at a bar in Reading.
His mother, Yvonne, flew over to be with her son and has been fundraising to cover the cost of his care because the 28-year-old was not insured.
Krisma Anthony has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
The 23 year old, of Woolwich, London, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Reading Crown Court on 11 March.
Mr Thompson is now in a medically induced coma after sustaining a serious injury to his head in the attack on Sunday
Mr Thompson had travelled from the Caribbean to stay with relatives in Reading for a holiday.
Three days into his trip, the lighting technician was stabbed and suffered a serious injury to his head in the Walkabout Bar shortly after 02:00 GMT on Sunday 11 February.
Mrs Thompson said her son is now in a medically induced coma after surgery to prevent bleeding to his brain.
She explained: "I got the phone call around 07:00 and when I heard what had happened, it was unbelievable, it threw me in a total spin.
"They said he got stabbed, but didn't say where and he was in surgery but they didn't know if he would pull through. I arrived [in the UK] the next morning and went straight to the hospital to look for him."
Mr Thompson was attacked in the Walkabout Bar in Reading on Sunday at about 02:04 GMT
Mrs Thompson added: "The scene was a horror I thought I was in a nightmare. All the different machines he was hooked up to, my heart dropped.
"A lady came and gave me a hospital bill of just over £11,000 and I was thinking 'I just got here, I don't know where this money is going to come from'."
Mrs Thompson said her son did not have insurance for the care he will now require, so her family has set up a fundraising page as a "last resort".
So far the page has exceeded its target and raised more than £15,000.
Mrs Thompson said: "I just want to really thank the people who have contributed and everyone who is praying for him - and the hospital staff.
"No-one has spoken to me about the final bill, so I don't know, but I really appreciate each and every person who has donated."
Thames Valley Police confirmed a second man, aged 25, and from London, was released with no further action after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
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