Colchester music teacher Patrick Sabberton is repatriated

Patrick Sabberton’s loved ones fought to raise £180,000 to bring him home from hospital in Shanghai after he fell into a coma on January 12.

Tests revealed the 43-year-old, who is a musician and taught the violin at a British international school, had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

The catastrophic illness occurs when blood from an artery suddenly begins bleeding into the brain.

But against all odds, having battled pneumonia in intensive care for several months, Mr Sabberton was deemed stable enough to be repatriated by air to England.

Music teacher - Patrick Sabberton (Image: Newsquest)

The former Alderman Blaxill School pupil is now in Colchester Hospital where he is being “well cared for”, his sister Claire told the Gazette.

It is despite a series of barriers disrupting the process, including Covid restrictions, landing permits and not least a typhoon stopping the plane from taking off.

A fundraiser launched by his family saw £90,000 in donations pour in, before an anonymous donor stepped in to get the rest of the money over the line.

The music teacher’s sister said it was an “unbelievable relief” when she heard her brother was finally on a plane.

The 34-year-old added it was a “very difficult, extremely challenging process” to get Mr Sabberton home.

The family had been unable to visit him due to strict lockdown rules in place while he was being cared for in China.

Violin - Mr Sabberton taught music in Shanghai, China (Image: Newsquest)

“He is stable and obviously he’s got a long way to go but he has settled in really well,” she said.

“After being apart from Patrick for so long it’s great we were able to see him and be near to him now.”

Claire said it was a “shock all over again” when she was reunited with her brother and saw his condition.

She added: “But we were so glad to see him, it was an unbelievable relief after such a huge journey.

“The staff at Colchester Hospital have been great and we feel he is in the best place right now.”