- author, Lee Booyah
- role, BBC News, Bristol
A Malaysian teenager who was a martial arts enthusiast died after falling seriously ill with an infection.
Ray Williams, 18, from Bristol, contracted a skin infection called staph while in Thailand on his first trip abroad for martial arts training.
He was treated with tablets, collapsed on the flight back to the UK, was admitted to intensive care in Malaysia and died on Wednesday.
“Words cannot describe the pain we are feeling right now,” said his coach and owner of the Trojan Free Fighters, Mario Said.
Troy's gym and Bristol's martial arts community raised more than £13,300 to fly Williams' family to Malaysia.
Mr Said told the BBC that “there was nobody who didn't cry” at the gym when his death was announced.
Image source, Mario Said
He added: “Ray was great. He seemed very happy. He'll always be Troian with us. Troian is Ray.”
“There were over 100 people there. Together we form a very strong community.
“Some people think our gym is just a gym, but it's not. We're a family. We sweat, bleed and cry together every day.”
Before going overseas, Williams trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu six times a week, Muay Thai four times a week and had just started taking up mixed martial arts.
Williams' other coach, Mark McClelland, has been mentoring him since Williams began his teaching career four years ago.
“Everybody got along with him. He had a great work ethic. It was fun teaching and training with him.”
“Emotionally it's very tough. I'm trying to be strong for the team and help his family,” he said.
“Everyone has been amazed” by the “outpouring” of support from the community, he added.
“Hopefully we can offer some comfort and help to the family with the difficulties they are having to go through at this time,” he added.
People who practice martial arts often suffer from skin infections.
While often treatable, staph can also cause severe sepsis and toxic shock syndrome, according to the NHS.
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