The family of a boy left brain-damaged after jumping from a pier have told of the heartbreak of watching him "fade away" as wellwishers have now donated more than £24,000 to support them.

Jack Dolan, from Chatham, suffered serious head injuries after performing a flip off Stone Pier in Margate last month.

The 15-year-old was flown to a London hospital, where a scan revealed no brain activity – with the youngster tragically put on end-of-life care after having his life support taken away.

While the plan had been for him to be moved into a hospice, doctors have said his body is stronger than they thought and such treatment would not be suitable.

It has left the Dolan family desperately trying to raise funds to bring their beloved Jack back to a suitable home – with a fundraising target now increased to £40,000 to make the adjustments needed to accommodate him at home.

In the most recent update, Jack’s stepfather, David Dolan, who has raised him from a young age, said: “Jack has managed to breathe on his own; this doesn’t change his palliative care plan, [it] just lengthens it. His time is extremely limited due to the rest of his issues.

“This makes it all the more painful. He will deteriorate over the coming weeks/months but there is nothing that can be done for him

“He has mild heart issues, seizures, dystonia and pain meds - he cannot swallow or cough, he is brain-dead with a heartbeat.

“My heart is breaking watching my lively, fun-loving boy slowly and painfully fade away, I want to save him, I’ve always saved him, but this is beyond even me.

“He's in a grey area with no time limit on how long it will take so children’s hospice won’t take him. Hospitals are short term so the palliative care gave us two options; take him home or foster him – that isn’t even up for debate.

“I am pushing every way I can to get a home suitable for his needs. Fundraising is to make any adjustments and additions to get him home, so his sisters can read to him [and] we can show him the love and care he deserves.

“He was one in a million and he’s doing it even at the end.”

More than 900 supporters have already contributed to the appeal, donating more than £24,500.

Jack’s mum Lisa, an NHS worker, will be giving up her job to care for him full-time but doctors cannot say how long he will live.

Due to Jack’s vegetative state, he will never talk, move or be able to show emotion.

Mr Dolan also says with spots on his brain, Jack is likely to have a stroke at some point and has suffered two cardiac arrests.

He added that from his research it could be anything from six weeks to two years.

Mr Dolan said: “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy because you can’t grieve his loss but you’re getting a body back that's going to sit in the living room and deteriorate and die.

“It’s impossible to explain.”

The family previously told how Jack was “fun-loving and wild as they come”.

At that time, they thought his death would “only be a matter of time” due to the severity of his brain damage suffered when jumping into the water on June 23.

Thankfully, Medway Council is finding the family an accessible house to live in, which will have to be adapted for his needs.

DONATE TO THE APPEAL HERE

“Credit where credit is due, they acted really fast,” he added.

“It’s just some horrible void we are in now. He’s not dead but he’s not alive.

“My Jack is gone and there’s just a body to constantly get upset about.

“It’s a fate worse than death.”