A stock car driver is on the mend after being taken ill ahead of a fight night event two weeks ago.
Mathew Newson, from Aylsham, was unable to fight at BriSCA's (British Stock Car Drivers' Association) event in Leicester on Saturday, February 23.
He was taken to a specialist hospital in the area.
The formula one stock car driver was initially said to be in a 'critical, but stable' condition, but BriSCA posted on social media today: 'News from Anita . Mathew is off the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenatio machine) and the tubes that have been pumping the blood and oxygen around his body are out of his neck, a huge step in the right direction.'
Mr Newson's parents live near Norwich and a GoFundMe page was set up by the Brisca FI stock cars (#oval family) fans' group to help the family with travel and accommodation costs in the Leicester area. It raised £3,584 in just one day.
Donations are no longer being taken for that page, but the money raised will be added to another page that has been set up by the family, which has already raised £1865.
When a friend of Mr Newson's, Mary Randell visited him in intensive care on February 28, she posted on social media, on behalf of the family, that he was 'in a really shocking state and very poorly'.
She added: 'I am told by Bugs that the doctors are saying it's pneumonia with chest infection complications.
'He did open his eyes and seemed to recognise me but was unable to talk as he has a pipe through his trachea, is being fed through another tube and his blood is being taken aerated, and given back to him, as his lungs are so badly infected/ damaged.
'I'm led to believe from the Newson family that this is not going to be a quick process and it could take weeks or months before he can be transferred to Norwich.'
The family, who are by Mr Newson's bedside, have asked not to be contacted during this stressful and worrying time.
if would like to help, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mary-randell
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