Philip Pain, who is on a yearlong placement in Mexico as part of his Spanish degree, is in a coma and suffering from two broken legs, a broken lower back and crushed internal organs after the accident on New Year’s Day.

At the time of print, the 20 year old student was in a critical but stable condition, and awaiting surgery for his back. It is not yet known how the student, who stayed at Montefiore Halls in his first year, fell from the balcony, but a toxicology report has shown no sign of drugs or excessive alcohol.

The student, who is from South London, has O negative blood and needs blood from the same rare blood group, of which only seven per cent of the population have.

Although 12 units of blood have already been donated to the student from Florida by The Blood Care Foundation for urgent surgery, the hospital where the 20 year old is staying in Mazatlan, Mexico, is not able to store any further supplies which may be needed.

Over 23,000 people have joined Facebook campaign groups appealing for blood in Mexico for the Humanities student. Blood and potential donors are unable to be transported easily into Mexico, and so the student’s family are calling for anyone who is in Mexico, or who knows anyone who is in Mexico who has O negative blood to contact the hospital where the student is staying.

Two people have already come forward due to the online campaigns appealing for blood, and donated five pints between them. However the student’s uncle, Mark Gardiner, who won more than £11m on the National Lottery in 1995, has said: ‘What we need is [for] people to walk into the hospital in Mazatlan. He needs blood now, and in the long term the doctors need to know they have enough on the shelf before they can operate. It isn’t a question of me handing over my credit card and buying whatever we need.’

The Wessex Scene also spoke to close University friend, Sally Keeney, about Phil’s condition and the appeal for more blood. She said: ‘There is now a list of potential donors at the hospital who will be contacted when blood is needed, as Phil needs several operations and the hospital facilities can only store small amounts of blood. We would like to continue adding to the donor list, as complications during surgeries may arise and it is possible that some donations may not be able to be used, or people may not be able to get to the hospital in time’.

The Civil Engineering student also added: ‘Phil often gave blood and the donations have been vital in saving his life. He’s a great guy, the life and soul of the party, and has been lucky to survive his fall. It would be amazing if everyone who is a member of the Facebook groups supporting Phil would make an appointment to donate blood in his honour, as his situation shows that it is so important to do so.’