A FATHER who was left with severe brain damage and in a coma after a brutal attack in Thailand has died.

Paul Ayling, who lived on Canvey for more than 30 years before emigrating to Hua Hin with his wife Justine and son Scott, died on Saturday.

He was attacked almost a year ago on November 21 2011 after dropping off his son, then aged nine, at school near their new home, and was pulling away on a motorbike when he was accosted by two men.

One of them hit Mr Ayling over the head with a lump of wood, sending him into a coma.

No-one was charged with the assault, but his family suspect the attackers were hired after he refused to pay decorators who worked on his home.

The family has so far been unhappy with the Thailand police investigation – when Mr Ayling’s brother Tony spoke to the Echo in April this year he feared powerful criminal forces were working against them..

His mother Anita said in an e-mail to the Echo the family is now planning to speak to Thai police again as they should be investigating the case as murder.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed Mr Ayling’s death but would not comment further.