Lotto winner in appeal for nephew

Philip was studying Spanish in Mexico as part of his degree course

A lottery winner has said his millions cannot help his 21-year-old nephew, who is in a coma in hospital after falling from a seventh-floor balcony in Mexico.

Mark Gardiner, from East Sussex, who won more than £11m on the National Lottery in 1995, said his nephew, Philip Pain, desperately needed blood.

Southampton University student Mr Pain is O negative and the Mexican hospital does not have enough blood to operate.

Mr Pain's family from Bexleyheath, south London, have appealed for donors.

"What we need is people to walk into the hospital in Mazatlan," said Mr Gardiner, who lives in Hastings.

"After a Facebook campaign by his brother and sister, two people gave five pints between them and that has been used.

"He needs blood now, and in the long term the doctors need to know they have enough on the shelf before they can operate."

Broken legs

Former Dartford Grammar School pupil Mr Pain, from Bexleyheath, was in Mexico to study Spanish for a year as part of his degree.

It is not known how he fell from the hotel balcony, but a toxicology report shows no sign of drugs or excessive alcohol.

His parents, retired police officer Neil and his wife Sally, have flown to Mexico to be by their son's bedside.

Their other adult children, Lawrence and Stephanie, are trying to help Philip from the UK.

He has two broken legs, a broken lower back and crushed internal organs.

Mr Gardiner said he had been told blood was available over the border in the United States but red tape was preventing it reaching Mr Pain.

"We all take for granted that there is an ambulance when you need one and that blood will be there," said Mr Gardiner.

"But it isn't just on the shelf. It isn't a question of me handing over my credit card and buying whatever we need."

Lotto winner's blood bank appeal