Bristol teen dies on first trip abroad as fundraiser set up to bring his body home

  • Ray Williams' coach told ITV News' Richard Payne it's been "really painful" dealing with his death

A martial arts loving teenager described as “an amazing young man” has died on his first trip abroad.

Ray Williams, from Bristol, had travelled to Thailand to train in martial arts when he contracted a staphylococcus infection - a skin infection better known as 'staph'.

The 18-year-old was treated with antibiotics and was on his way back to the UK, but collapsed on a layover flight.

He was admitted into intensive care in Malaysia, but died on Wednesday 24 July.

Ray Williams (on the left) trained at the Trojan Free Fighters Bristol with his coach Mario Saeed (centre). Credit: BPM Media/Trojan Free Fighters Bristol

Mario Saeed, who was Ray’s coach and the owner of the Trojan Free Fighters Bristol, in St Judes, said: “Ray was a young man with his whole life ahead of him. He was an amazing young man, he helped raise money for cancer and was loved by all.

“He is my brother. If he wasn’t at school he was with me, if he wasn’t at home he was with me, if he wasn’t with me then he was asleep. I don’t understand why his life was taken so young.”

Ray had travelled to Asia to further his passion for mixed martial arts.

He was training in Thailand after receiving the blue-belt just three weeks ago. Mr Saeed said that Ray told him it was the happiest day of his life.“Our main priority now is to try and get his body back home to the UK," he said.

A GoFundMe launched while Ray was receiving treatment to help support his family while in Malaysia has raised more than £15,000.

Mr Saeed told ITV News: "I can't imagine what (his) mum and dad are going through at the moment. We have an amazing community here and everyone's devastated. He wasn't just a student who came and went. Everybody here is really close to each other.

"It's really painful, we're trying to find a way to deal with it."

Ray Williams with coach and mentor Mario Saeed who trained the teenager for four years Credit: Mario Saeed

He alson urged people who are unwell not to go to the gym to train.

"Please if you have a staph infection, please don't go to the gym and train because it could affect other people's lives," Mr Saeed said.

"Potentially, people could lose their life like Ray did. It's really painful to see from such a basic thing he lost his life."