The family of a British man left in a coma with horrific life-changing injuries following an “unprovoked” Spanish holiday assault say they are determined to bring his alleged attacker to justice after launching an online fundraising campaign.

Retired carpenter Marshall Latham is in hospital in Gran Canaria, and medics have warned his partner Lynn he has a traumatic brain injury he is unlikely to recover from and “he will never walk or talk again.”

A British man said to have been held as he tried to board a flight to Glasgow, has been arrested over the incident in the holiday resort of Caleta de Fuste on the Canary island of Fuerteventura.

Friends say the 68-year-old’s attacker punched him as he was walking back to his apartment after drinks with friends and left him unconscious after he hit his head on the ground.

After being transferred to a hospital in Gran Canaria he has had part of his skull removed, a tracheotomy, a drain on his brain to help ease pressure and suffered pneumonia twice.

Friend Neil Cooper, who has set up a GoFundMe campaign for the hospitalised Brit from Nantwich, Cheshire, which has so far raised nearly half its £20,000 target, said in an agonising description of Marshall’s ordeal: “He is still fighting despite us being told, not once, but twice, that we need to go and say our goodbyes because the medical staff didn’t think he would make it though the night.”

He added: “We want to bring Marsh’s attacker to justice and although this won’t change his medical situation, it will allow his friends and family to know that the person who did this has to face the consequences of their actions.

“Marsh didn’t ask for this, he certainly didn’t deserve this and it was just a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time which has caused him to be in this situation.”

Police in Fuerteventura who have made an arrest couldn’t be reached early this morning and it is not clear if the suspect has been remanded in prison pending an ongoing criminal inquiry or released on conditional bail.

But Marshall’s brother-in-law Jim Casey, also from Nantwich, has revealed the man was arrested on a plane as he tried to fly back to Glasgow after being thrown out of a bar the same night as the attack.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed it is supporting the family of a British man who has been hospitalised in Spain.

The holiday assault happened on December 10 last year but the horrific injuries Mr Latham suffered have only just emerged.

The GoFundMe appeal, called ‘Help Us Get Justice For Marsh’, says: “Marsh was involved in an unprovoked attack in Caleta, Fuerteventura, whilst on holiday in the Canary Islands.

“He was walking back to his apartment after a couple of drinks with his friends and was punched out of the blue by someone he did not know.

“This punch resulted in Marsh falling and hitting his head hard on the concrete floor. Marsh was knocked unconscious and an ambulance was called.

“Marsh went to the hospital in Puerto del Rosario and this is where he was intubated, ventilated and underwent a CT scan which showed he had two skull fractures and a bleed on his brain, a very serious injury that required immediate surgical intervention.

“However, the hospital in Fuerteventura is not equipped for such traumatic cases as this so Marsh was transferred via air ambulance to the Insular Hospital in Gran Canaria.

“The surgeons at both hospitals were surprised that he survived the flight as his injuries were that severe.

“Marsh underwent surgery that resulted in 14cm of his skull being removed to decompress the pressure that had built up on his brain. He remained sedated, on a ventilator and was transferred into the intensive care unit for further monitoring.

“Since this initial surgery Marsh had more operations, including a tracheostomy, a bolt put into his skull to measure the pressure, a drain put into his brain to drain excess cerebral spinal fluid that was building up causing more pressure on his brain, he has battled pneumonia twice, fought his way through meningitis that required a wash out and clean up of his brain and he is still fighting despite us being told, not once, but twice, that we need to go and say our goodbyes because the medical staff didn’t think he would make it though the night.

“Unfortunately when Marsh’s sedation was turned off, he did not wake up apart from brief opening of his eyes and small movements of his limbs. Marsh has had further X-rays, CT scans, an MRI scan, blood tests and it is now confirmed that unfortunately he has a traumatic brain injury and the chances that he will recover from this is very unlikely. Marsh will never walk or talk again. He will need round the clock care due to his injuries.

“Marsh is currently still in hospital in Gran Canaria and we hope to be able to bring him back to the UK once he is stable enough to fly.

“His family and friends have started this GoFundMe to help support with his legal fees as his travel insurance doesn’t cover this. We are in the process of appointing a Spanish solicitor and due to the nature of his case, this will be very expensive.

“Marsh is a well loved character both in Nantwich in Cheshire where he lives and in Fuerteventura where he spent a lot of the winter months on holiday with his partner Lynn.

“Lots of people have been in touch to ask how they can help and right now this is the best way you can show your support.

“We want to bring Marsh’s attacker to justice and although this won’t change his medical situation, it will allow his friends and family to know that the person who did this has to face the consequences of their actions.

“Marsh didn’t ask for this, he certainly didn’t deserve this and it was just a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time which has caused him to be in this situation.”

The online appeal has currently raised £8,864 of its £20,000 target with more than 170 donations.

His brother-in-law told local paper The Nantwich News in an interview two days ago: “He and Lynn go to Fuerteventura three or four times a year, they have loads of friends over there. Lynn had gone back to their apartment, and Marsh stayed for another drink and was walking home when something has happened.

“He was hit by this guy, somewhere near a taxi rank, and he has gone down and hit his head on the concrete floor. Witnesses have told police this was a completely unprovoked punch, there was no argument and they did not know each other. All we know is that the man they suspect was arrested on a plane as he tried to fly to Glasgow.

“We are also told this man had been thrown out of a bar on the same night before the attack. Marsh has never been in any trouble or even had a parking ticket. He was just a chap on holiday with his partner.”

Local councillor Allen Gage said in a social media post on Friday: “We need justice. A much cherished friend of mine, a gentleman that would give you the shirt from his back was sadly attacked and put in a coma while in Spain just before Christmas. He literally crossed the road to help someone out – no surprise there.

“Mr Marshall Latham, ‘Marsh’ to his friends, continues to fight on in a coma. A community fundraiser has been launched to pursue civil justice. Thanks to all those who have contributed.

“Fight on Marsh, we will fight for you too.”