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A Merseyside family are fighting to bring their sick son home after he was left stranded in Hong Kong.

Robert Hughes, 25, is fighting for his right to return to the UK after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The former Liverpool College student was taken to hospital after an in-flight “episode” caused the plane he was travelling on to return to Hong Kong.

His father Cliff Hughes, of Woolton, told The ECHO they have considered selling the family home to cover hospital and legal fees, since the crisis on August 10.

The 52-year-old production buyer said: “It has been a huge nightmare for the family. We have gone from everyone being happy to all of a sudden our lives being blown to pieces.

“We are trying to achieve Robert being released so he can come home, whether that would be on a normal chartered flight or with a medical escort.”

Robert has lived in China for the past four years, recently teaching English in Hainan.

However, after a visit from his older brother Peter last week it was decided he should return home as he was “behaving oddly.”

Flights were arranged for Robert to meet his mother Helen in Hong Kong and fly back together on a Virgin plane.

Cliff said: “90 minutes into the flight home the flight hit turbulence and passengers were asked to fasten their seatbelts.

“For some reason Robert didn’t want to do this and the more he was asked the more agitated he became.”

It is believed Robert was then restrained by cabin crew as the flight took a U-turn.

On landing he was met by officers and taken to Princess Margaret hospital, where he was kept under police watch and diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Two days later he was transferred to Kwai Chung psychiatric hospital, where he remains at an estimated cost of £450 a day.

His father said: “The family have no savings, as you can imagine in the current economic climate the reverse is true. The only collateral we have is the family home.”

Cliff and ex-wife Helen now face an anxious wait to hear if the authorities will also press charges against their son after he was bailed by police for 30 days.

His mum and brother, who remain in Hong Kong, have reported difficulties in communicating with doctors and the family are now liaising with the British consulate.

Cliff added: “Our main priority is bringing Robert home and we want to make sure that he is safe and getting the appropriate treatment.

“But we do not know when the doctors will release him as safe to travel and if the airlines will allow him to fly.”

A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth office said: “We are aware of the reports and we are currently looking into it.”