A TERMINALLY ill homeless man who was trafficked into the UK will die alone in a hotel room in what charity workers are calling “a tragedy”.

The man, known as Mr Xing, was forced to work in a cannabis farm after being trafficked into the country from China in 2005.

Medics believe the three years he spent in squalor before escaping most likely contributed to his diagnosis of terminal lung cancer.

Mr Xing is being housed in the Red Lion Hotel in High Street, Colchester, so he can spend his final days under a roof.

Gazette: Temporary stay - the Red Lion Hotel in High StreetTemporary stay - the Red Lion Hotel in High Street (Image: Newsquest)

NHS support for his heartbreaking situation has been sparse as he has no recourse to public funds due to not having an immigration status.

Refugee Action Colchester swept in to help after Mr Xing was discharged from hospital and left to return to the streets.

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The charity, along with support from Beacon House in Crouch Street and St Helena Hospice, has forked out £1,000 so far to fund his discounted hotel stay.

Gazette: Heartbreaking - Refugee Action director Maria Wilby said the situation is a tragic oneHeartbreaking - Refugee Action director Maria Wilby said the situation is a tragic one

Mr Xing also cannot yet be housed in a hospice due to predictions about how much longer he has left to live.

Mrs Wilby continued: “It is a tragic situation where he is on end of life care and will die soon on his own in a hotel room.

“He is having to manage his own treatment but is too ill to do it and often forgets the times he needs to take it.

Gazette: Treatment - Mr Xing was received palliative care at Colchester HospitalTreatment - Mr Xing was received palliative care at Colchester Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

“He is quite shy and humble. He has clearly lived a life of abuse and is in a great deal of pain.

“It is really tragic and so hard to see.”

A fundraiser has been set up by Refugee Action and Beacon House to make Mr Xing’s final days comfortable.

You can find it via bit.ly/3Fu0IAl.

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