Influencer, 29, fighting for her life after being found bruised and unconscious at home takes '10 steps back'

29-year-old Ashley Surcombe was found by police in her home in Seoul, the capital city of the East Asian country, severely dehydrated and with failing organs.

Authorities went to Surcombe’s apartment after her family contacted them because they were concerned she had not replied to their messages, and then had to break in when she did not answer the door.

They found the star unconscious on the bathroom floor and with a black eye - but it's a mystery how she ended up this way.

Surcombe, originally from Evesham, Worcestershire, moved to Seoul for five years. Her parents Nigel and Karen contacted police on Monday March 24, when they had not heard from her as they were concerned because she lives alone.

Surcombe was found later the same day. Paramedics were called to the scene and she was rushed to hospital in Seoul. She remains there in intensive care, and Nigel has flown out to be with her and is now by her side.

The influencer’s big sister Kat Surcombe has set up a GoFundMe page to appeal for help in covering her sibling's medical bills and bring her home, and also provide updates on her health.

Taking to the page yesterday, (Wednesday April 2), Kat wrote: “Yesterday, we received the difficult news that Ashley has developed severe pneumonia.”

She also added the heartbreaking news that the online star had been moved back to intensive care, after only informing fans on Monday (March 31) that her sister had been moved out of the ICU and was “doing well”.

“This morning, our dad let us know that she’s being moved back to the Intensive Care Unit and will likely need to be placed on a ventilator. It’s expected she’ll remain in the ICU for the rest of the week,” she said.

She went on: “We always knew Ashley’s recovery wasn’t going to be linear, but needless to say we’re devastated that it seems to have taken 10 steps back when the week started so positively.

“Please continue to keep Ashley in your thoughts - your messages, support, and love mean the world to us right now.”

When she set up the page earlier this week, Kat wrote: “It feels surreal writing this, but my family and I desperately need your help. My little sister, Ashley, who has been living over 5,500 miles away in Seoul, was found unconscious and unresponsive in her apartment on Monday, 24th March. She’s currently in the ICU with severe dehydration and multiple organ damage. We don’t yet know the full extent of the damage, but we do know it’s serious."

The family, including her mum, dad, elder sister and twin sister called Tara, state that the star suffered a black eye because she banged her head against a door about a week before she was found.

Surcombe, who speaks fluent Korean, has more than a million followers across her social media accounts. She had been documenting her travels across south-east Asia.

According to the fundraising appeal, it costs £1,500 per day for Surcombe to be in intensive care, and thousands more pounds will be needed for further tests, scans and medications. Karen and Nigel have already spent £3,000 for treatment their daughter has already received, and further costs are “ongoing and unpredictable”.

At the time of writing, on the morning of Thursday April 3, almost £20,000 has been raised towards a £50,000 goal.

There were no signs of forced entry into Surcombe’s apartment, police said.