An Isle of Wight dad bitten by a king king cobra in India is out of hospital - and more than £17,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page set up to support him.

Ian Jones runs not-for-profit company Sabirian, which has a shop on Newport High Street.

He is blind and paralysed after a snake attack, which his family say they hope is temporary. 

A fundraising page was set up by Isle of Wight charity Community Action, which supports Sabirian. 

In a statement, Mr Jones' family said: “The charity, Ian and his family are hugely grateful for the incredible response to the fundraising appeal. 

"We had no idea it would generate such an amazing global response and we would like to thank each and every one of you for your support, we are so very grateful.

"While Ian is out of hospital he is not out of the woods yet - he has paralysis in his legs and is therefore confined to a wheelchair and he is also totally blind, both as a result of the Cobra venom, which is extremely frightening for him. 

"We take some comfort though from the fact that he is back amongst more familiar surroundings and with his beloved dog Rocky and able to enjoy some cuddles again.

"We are doing everything we can to try and bring him home so he can continue his recovery here with us and we will keep you posted on his progress."

Offered a place on a hospital coronavirus ward in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Ian has now returned to his base in the city in Rajasthan, supported by a small group of colleagues.

The funds are intended to pay for medical bills, and the family is also looking at repatriation.