A British rescuer who helped save Thai schoolboys trapped in a cave in 2018 is fighting for his life after being struck down with pneumonia.

Vernon Harry Unsworth, 70, was rushed to Mae Chan Hospital in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, when he began coughing violently and struggling to breathe on September 22.

He was intubated for several days in the ICU as doctors gave him antibiotics to fight off the infection.

The hero caver - who sued Elon Musk over a vile 'pedo guy' slur - was transferred to the Male Internal Medicine Ward on September 28 as his condition improved, though nurses said he was still under close observation.

Footage shows how a delegation of Royal representatives, local authorities, and military officers visited Vernon with gifts on Monday, October 6.

They informed him he had been designated a 'royal patronage patient', meaning his medical expenses will be covered by the Thai monarchy. The status is reserved for those who have contributed to society - and rarely handed to non-Thai nationals.

In the video, a raspy Vernon is seen greeting the officials as he lay on his hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip. He was only able to talk for several minutes before having to type out his words on his phone.

He said: ‘They're taking off the oxygen slowly. I've had an x-ray for my chest. The weather conditions have affected Thailand. The rain has not helped me.'

Vernon's Thai wife, Woranan Ratrawiphukkun, expressed her gratitude for the help from officials in the country, who have lavished Vernon with adulation for his role in saving the Wild Boars football team who were stranded in a flooded cave.

Woranan: said: 'Vernon was seriously ill but he is getting stronger. His Majesty the King has accepted Vernon as a patient under Royal Patronage.

'I want to thank you to all friends who have shown concern for his condition.'

A nurse at Mae Chan Hospital said today that Vernon is receiving ongoing care but there has been no date set for his release.

She said: ‘Currently, his fever has begun to subside, and his blood pressure is stable.

‘While lying in bed, he appears comfortable and not fatigued. However, walking to the bathroom or talking extensively can cause mild tiredness.

‘Overall, his condition is stable. He is on supplemental oxygen, able to perform daily activities independently, and responds appropriately to questions. No side effects have been observed.

‘He has been hospitalised since September 22, and his current treatment includes antibiotics.

‘He was admitted with a severe cough and respiratory distress, requiring ICU care and intubation, which was removed on September 23.

‘He was transferred out of the ICU on September 28 and has since been using a low-flow oxygen tube while continuing antibiotic therapy.

‘This morning, the doctor adjusted his medication and will continue monitoring his condition for the next day or two before considering discharge, as his medication is being adjusted.'

Vernon is a British cave explorer who lives in Chiang Rai and played a crucial role in the dramatic 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in which 12 boys and their coach were saved after monsoon flash floods left them trapped.

He used his extensive knowledge of the cave system to help the expert international rescue team, including Navy SEALS and divers, safely extract the 13 people, who were all miraculously brought out alive after the two-week effort.

However, he was entangled in a legal dispute with eccentric and divisive Tesla founder Elon Musk, who took offense when the caver described his proposed rescue mini-submarine as a ‘PR stunt' that he could 'shove where the sun doesn't shine'.

Musk made allegedly defamatory tweets, calling Unsworth a ‘pedo guy,' which he later claimed was a common phrase in South Africa, where he grew up.

Vernon sued Musk for defamation, calling Musk a 'billionaire bully' and claiming the comments had damaged his reputation. He sought 190 million USD in compensation, but a US court ruled in favour of Musk.