A heartbroken British man was helped by locals after his Thai wife left with and their son went to university.

The expat Jason Slater, 59, was found by concerned passers-by lying 'in an emaciated state' and covered in dog bites on a pavement in Bangkok on September 8.

He appeared to be weak and thin due to starvation when staff from the 'Win Win Foundation' arrived to help him.

Rescue volunteers tried to take Jason, from London, to a hospital, but he declined and said he wanted to go home instead.

He was taken on a pick-up truck to the two-storey concrete family house in Bangkok's Thung Khru District, where officers found him living in squalor.

There was a large hole in a wall of the house, through which the interior could be seen. Piles of rubbish lined the tables and kitchen counters, while debris was scattered on the floor.

On the second-floor balcony was the family's pet pitbull, which Jason said had attacked him on multiple occasions.

Staff gave the Brit some food and water, as he appeared to have grown skeletal from starvation.

Jason's neighbours told the officers that he previously had a Thai wife and a son, who was now studying in England and staying with Jason's relatives.

They said the isolation had taken a toll on the husband's mental health, with him tearing through his house during his outbursts.

Jason said he had created the gaping hole in the wall when he crashed into the house with his car but 'used the wrong gears.'

Udon Chotimanee Chaiyawat, 34, a volunteer at the Win Win Foundation, said: 'I came to do business in Bangkok on September 8 when I saw the elderly foreign man sleeping on the side of the road. I didn't know why he was there, so I came closer to ask.

'He was so weak, and there were wounds all over his body. He couldn't speak Thai, so we coordinated with local officials to help us communicate. He then asked to be taken to his home.'

Another volunteer, Phisit Lertsripanya, 41, said: 'A neighbour has contacted his wife, who has moved to another province. The wife contacted his child in England so that the British Embassy could help take care of him.

'The British man's neighbours want the agency to help take care of him. They were afraid that he might die if left alone. It's not just him in the house. There's also a dog. The Win Win Foundation is arranging to feed them both first. At this time, we have been able to contact relatives in England and are currently coordinating with the British Embassy.

'As for his wife, he knew that they had broken up and have been separated for a long time.'

The rescuers said they were waiting for aid from the British Embassy.