Attack victim Pepe is coming home to Portsmouth after £27,000 donation from supporters

INJURED England fan Andrew Bache is due back in the country after being attacked during Euro 2016.

The 51-year-old, known as Pepe, has been in a hospital for more than two weeks after he was attacked by Russian thugs in Marseille in France ahead of the England v Russia match on June 11.

Friends, relatives and strangers have raised £27,269 on an online fundraising website, which is now closed.

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Around £15,000 was needed to fly Mr Bache, a Pompey fan, back to England in an air ambulance.

Pal Crispin Harwood said: ‘We’ve been told to plan for bringing him home.

‘We’re waiting to hear about a bed at Southampton General Hospital, and then he’ll come back by air ambulance as soon as we get the go-ahead.

‘He had a bit of a fever last week, but that was brought under control, and they are quite happy to let him come home.

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‘Once we’ve got him home, then the hard work starts with the rehabilitation.’

Mr Bache suffered a cardiac arrest, extensive brain injuries and a lung infection when he was attacked.

He was attacked by Russian thugs in the disorder in the build-up to the match.

French prosecutors revealed that about 150 Russian hooligans had been involved in the trouble, describing them as ‘hyper violent’ and ‘hyper rapid’.

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Russia was later given a suspended disqualification and a £119,000 fine by Uefa for their fans’ actions.

In a message posted on the JustGiving page on June 26 Mr Bache’s son Harry said: ‘Today dad had his eyes open for up to half an hour at a time which was really good, still not much movement in his left side but should come with time.

‘Unfortunately due to the tracheostomy he had yesterday he has had a bit of a fever today so they decided to sedate him for a bit – this has put the repatriation back 24 hours but still hopeful he will be back on UK soil within the next few days.

‘They’ve now allowed us to visit him whenever we like which has been brilliant so we’ve been watching the football with him, which I’m sure is helping his recovery.’

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Fundraisers have been organised to raise more cash for Mr Bache.

On July 1 from 7pm at the Cue Ball Club in Goldsmith Avenue, there will be an auction, raffle and music.

There is also a fundraiser on July 23 at the Post Ofice Sport and Social Club, in North End, where there will be live music.

It starts at 7pm.

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