Eric Ericsson, who changed his name by deed poll from Le Masurier, has been battling skin cancer, but when he collapsed at his Warrington home recently doctors found that it had spread to his brain. He is now paralysed from his waist down and is being cared for in the Wirral, Merseyside.
The sister and niece of the 73-year-old former First Tower and St Helier Boys School pupil have now launched a fundraising campaign in an effort to fly Mr Ericsson back to Jersey – the Island he left about 20 years ago.
The family have been quoted £8,700 to fly him back via air ambulance and transfer him to the Hospital.
His niece Alisha-Kierra Kelly (30) said: ‘He has had cancer for a little while but last month it took a turn for the worse and he collapsed and is now paralysed from the waist down because it’s gone to his brain.’
Mr Ericsson’s sister and Ms Kelly’s mother, Sue Brentnall, travelled to visit him in the UK last month and feared it might be the last time she ever saw him.
Ms Kelly added: ‘There was a flight ready to go at the weekend at 11am if we could get the money. We looked at a loan but it just wasn’t an option. I just wanted to reach out to people who I might not know about who maybe knew him in his childhood or when he was working over here who might be able to help. It would mean a lot to him.’
Mr Ericsson and his sister Mrs Brentnall were fostered at the age of five and lived at First Tower. He used to work for Normans, as well as a pharmaceutical firm in Great Union Road and the Co-op Grand Marché before moving to the UK.
He was also a keen footballer, having played for St Peter’s Football Club and travelled away on several occasions with Jersey Overseas Aid.
‘He’ll be going to the Hospital first once he gets here and then, if we can get a space, we will try to get him to Hospice,’ Ms Kelly added.
To date, more than £1,200 has been raised. For more information visit justgiving.com and search Alisha Kelly.
