Jiri Zivny, an aid worker in Cambodia, was robbed, beaten, stripped of his clothes and left for dead on Jan. 9. (Courtesy of Monty Aldoff)

A violent mugging in Cambodia has left a humanitarian worker from Kamloops, B.C., in a coma fighting for his life, according to his friend and a hospital official.

Jiri Zivny had just withdrawn money from a bank machine on Friday shortly before he was assaulted, robbed, and left for dead on the street, his friend Monty Aldoff told CBC News on Tuesday.

The attack likely took place as Zivny was trying to drive off on his scooter.

"[He] went to the bank machine and was followed by bad people, attacked, beaten in the head, robbed and stripped of his clothes and left for dead in the ditch for hours," Aldoff said.

"The doctor said he was hit twice severely in the head, so we suspect once while he was on the motorcycle and he crashed and then they jumped out and clubbed him again."

Zivny was found by local police hours after the attack, Aldoff said.

Taing Sovanna, a physician at Phnom Penh's Calmette hospital, confirmed to CBC News that Zivny is currently a patient and was brought in unconscious with severe head wounds.

"Our prediction is he is in serious condition," Taing told CBCNews.ca on Wednesday in a telephone interview. "He is on a respiratory machine."

Aldoff, Zivny and a few other aid workers began their humanitarian mission in southeast Asia in mid-November, delivering medical supplies to orphans on behalf of the International Humanitarian Hope Society.

Most of the group returned to B.C. over Christmas, except for Zivny and another worker who stayed on in Cambodia, Aldoff said.

Trust fund set up for care

Zivny was planning to work with the orphans for another month, Aldoff said, but his friends now want him home so he can receive better medical attention.

Aldoff said the Canadian Embassy in Cambodia has been contacted but an official said no help from the Canadian government was available at this point.

"We are trying to raise enough money to medevac him back to Canada," he said.

A trust fund has been set up in Zivny's name through the International Humanitarian Hope Society to raise money to pay for his return.

About $100,000 will be needed to bring him home once his condition improves.