A Cumbrian man is fighting for his life in a Brazilian hospital after losing his left leg in a horrific motorbike crash.

Christopher Peck, 34, from Workington, is in a critical condition with extensive injuries after embarking on a dream 18-week holiday this month to ride around South America on a motorbike.

His family say the former Navy seaman was involved in a head-on crash with a drunk driver who had recently been released from prison.

His lower left leg was amputated at the scene. After being in an induced coma, Christopher endured another operation on Friday to remove the rest of it after infection spread.

Cockermouth salon owner Natalie Taylor, one of Christopher's four sisters, says he is also suffering from broken ribs, a broken right leg, has swelling on the brain and is on dialysis as his kidneys are not working.

She said: "They think the swelling on the brain is something that will go away because of the brain function he's had.

"It has been the most horrific week or so since we found out but when we heard he'd woke up twice on Saturday, that was amazing.

"He was able to point to his legs. That's more than anything since the crash."

Christopher's 72-year-old mother Sylvia and brother Sean have flown out to Brazil and are at his bedside while his four sisters - Eileen, Jeanine, Natalie and Naomi - rally round father Robert back at home in.

Jeanine flew from her home in France to be at the Harrington family home.

More than £32,000 has already been pledged to their online crowdfunding appeal.

It has been set up to help pay for specialist hospital care and Christopher's transfer home to the UK following problems with three different insurance policies he had taken out.

Mrs Taylor, who has Taylor'ed in Windmill Lane, said: "This was his dream holiday. He had been planning this for two years.

"He was really particular with this, meticulous, and he'd taken out three insurance policies to cover his back but we've had a lot of trouble trying to get any help."

Insurance for the motorbike is third party and unlikely to cover him because the other driver will not have his own policy in place, Natalie said.

"The travel insurance company say that in their terms and conditions that they don't cover motorcycles as a mode of transport. We question that and the bank policy he had will only cover certain medical costs it seems," she added.

The Foreign Office is working with the family, including helping to attain costs of medical care and transfers for Christopher, a former pupil of Netherhall School in Maryport.

Christopher works as a fisheries protection officer in the Falklands for around eight months a year and had just started his four-month break.

He was due to return to west Cumbria this summer before returning to the southern hemisphere.

Mrs Taylor has praised the support of friends and family, medical staff caring for her brother and the people in Brazil who have been in touch with her mother and brother Sean since their plight made television news.

The family said they only found out about the accident on April 20 through a hostel owner Mr Peck mentioned before he lost consciousness at the crash scene.

This man was contacted by the Brazilian authorities and in turn called a cousin who works as a delivery driver in London.

He informed the Met police who traced the Peck family to Workington, calling Christopher's parents late at night.

Pledges to the appeal can be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chrispeckourgentlegiant