by Katie Lamborn

The family of a man languishing in a coma in Mexico have told how he is showing signs of improvement.

The update comes after an international rallying cry went out for donations of his rare type O-negative blood.

Philip Pain, 20, is recovering from an operation on his leg this afternoon at the Sharp hospital in Mazatlan. He expected to have surgery on his spine over the weekend.

The former Dartford Grammar School pupil has been in desperate need of the rare blood after falling seven floors from his hotel balcony.

His sister Stephanie said her family had been touched by the number of people offering to donate after a facebook campaign appealing for type- O negative donors.

Stephanie told KentOnline: "It's been really overwhelming. People are tracking his progress who have never met him or any of the family. It's very encouraging."

The family said they were grateful to all those who have offered to donate from Mexico and the UK, but are still appealing for those in the Mazatlan area to come forward.

If you know someone in the Mazatlan area with type-O Negative blood, ask them to contact the Sharp Hospital in Mazatlan on 66998656(78-84).

Philip has enough blood for now, said Stephanie, "but the hospital is compiling a list because he may be in for up to a month. The blood only has a certain shelf life so they can't take it all at once."

Twelve pints of O-Negative blood arrived in the week from Florida and eight people in Mazatlan area have donated.

Stephanie said she wants to thank the number of people in this country who have offered to donate. She said:

"One good thing that's come out of this, is that it's raised so much awareness of how vital it is to give blood. So I would still encourage people to give blood, who have offered in this country, because there are other lives that can be saved as well as Philip's.

"The blood donations that have happened so far are what have saved his life- that could happen for other people."

Philip was in Mexico as part of a year abroad in his course at the University of Southampton.

Speaking earlier in the week Philip's brother, Lawrence said: "The blood type is rare in the UK, but in the UK we have blood banks. They don't have that type of system in Mexico; people are expected to get it themselves."

Join the facebook campaign here.