Bristol fighter hospitalised overseas with staph infection

A Malaysian teenager has been admitted to intensive care after contracting a staph infection.

Ray Williams, 18, from Bristol, is on his first trip overseas to train in Muay Thai martial arts in Thailand.

He was treated with tablets and collapsed during a layover on July 15 on his way back to the UK, before being taken to hospital in Malaysia where he was placed in an artificially induced coma.

“If you know him like I do, you know he's a warrior. I hope he gets through this and I ask everyone to pray for him,” said his coach, Mario Said, owner of Trojan Free Fighters Bristol.

Mr Said, Troy's gym and Bristol's martial arts community have raised around £11,000 to fly Mr Williams' family to Malaysia to be with him in hospital.

Williams has been in a coma for five days after the infection caused severe damage to his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.

Before going overseas, he trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu six times a week, Muay Thai four times a week, and had just started mixed martial arts (MMA).

“He's such a likeable guy that he always volunteers to come to all of our charity events,” Said said.

“I couldn't get him out of the gym. He wouldn't leave so I had to keep telling him to go home after training every day.”

“He couldn't wait to turn 18 and go on his first solo trip.

“He's been training hard and just before he came back he texted me saying he was looking forward to coming back,” he added.

Mark McClelland, Williams' other jiu-jitsu coach, said he was “overwhelmed” by the amount of support the gym had received.

“We just want to help his parents and help everyone in our gym be a part of our community,” he said.

People who practice martial arts often suffer from skin infections.

Staphylococcus infections are often treatable, but if not treated properly they can also lead to severe sepsis or toxic shock syndrome, according to the NHS.