Influencer, 29, found unconscious at home in Korea flying back to UK after being diagnosed with rare neurological condition

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 was a mystery how she ended up this way.

In the days after the influencer was found, her big sister Kat Surcombe 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.

In the latest update on the page, posted on Monday, (April 21), she said that her younger sister is going to be flown home today, (Wednesday April 23). She also added that once she is home in the UK, Ashley will continue to receive treatment for the rare neurological condition she was diagnosed with earlier this month.

“I’m so pleased to share that Ashley will be flying home on Wednesday 23rd April. While this marks a huge step forward, her recovery journey is far from over. She’ll be admitted straight into a local hospital upon arrival, where she’ll continue treatment for her recent Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) diagnosis.”

She added: “From myself and my entire family — thank you. To every single person who donated, shared the GoFundMe, or sent love and support during this time, we are deeply, deeply grateful. Your kindness has carried us through the most difficult weeks of our lives. We can’t wait to have Ashley home.”

GBS is a rare neurological disorder where the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis, according to the NHS.

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 lived alone.

Surcombe was found later the same day. Paramedics were called to the scene and she was rushed to hospital in Seoul. She has remained there every since, and her father Nigel has flown out to South Korea to be with her.

When she set up the page in March, 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. Prior to her health issue, she had been documenting her travels across south-east Asia.

At the time of writing, on the morning of Wednesday April 23, more than £20,000 has been raised towards a £50,000 goal.

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