HE WAS rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries after an incident in which his best friend was allegedly murdered in front of him.

Luke Gray, 23, was one of three people who were seriously hurt outside the Royal British Legion Club in Lymington on October 22.

Max Maguire, also 23, of Pennington, died at the scene and another person in their early 20s was also injured.

Now one of Luke's other friends, Mitchell Speechley-Price, has launched a fundraising campaign that has raised £8,000 to help him cope with whatever lies ahead.

The GoFundMe page includes a photograph of him giving a thumbs up sign from his hospital bed and a statement Mitchell wrote shortly after the "horrendous" incident.

The statement says Luke could end up losing one of his kidneys.

It adds: "He's paralysed in his right leg because of a fractured vertebrae so will not walk unaided again. He is scared to go to sleep as he has nightmares every time he does, reliving the terrible events that took place.

"He is on a heavy dose of drugs to keep him alive and every time they try to ease him off them he starts to get worse and he has to go back on them."

But the statement adds: "Luke's thoughts are with Max and his family, which just shows who he really is. Whilst fighting for his life he still puts others before him."

Luke is now reported to have left hospital.

A fundraising campaign set up to help the family of Max Maguire, who had a baby daughter, has so far raised £18,654, exceeding its initial target of £15,000.

In a statement issued a few days after his death his family said: "Lovely Max had lots of friends and was a very popular lad.

"Anyone Max ever met fell in love with him instantly. He would have you in tears of laughter. With a heart of gold, he would help anyone in need.

“Max was an amazing father to his beautiful daughter Delilah Daisy. He was an amazing son, brother, uncle and nephew, grandson and cousin.

“Life will never be the same again for anyone who knew Max.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, Garon Jewell, 18, of Flushards, Lymington, and Draven Jewell, 20, of no fixed address, have both been charged with murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent.

They are due to stand trial in May next year.