A student who was accidentally poisoned on a college visit is battling for his life after contracting the MRSA superbug.

The man, 35, was one of six students with learning difficulties taken to hospital after swallowing an orange drink contaminated with dishwasher liquid in December.

He seemed to be making a good recovery but has become gravely ill since contracting the bug.

His brother said: "It is horrific to see him as he's in such a bad way. There's a big chance he won't make it.

"If the infections have not subsided by today or if X-rays show no improvement, the ethical thing may well be to turn off the life support."

The patient, whose name we are witholding at the request of his family, was visiting Plumpton College, near Lewes, with a group from the nearby St Nicholas Day Centre when he came into contact with the contaminated drink.

Although the initial burns to his throat were serious, he was thought to have been making a good recovery.

He now needs a life support machine to help him breathe.

His medical complications began three weeks ago when doctors at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath performed an endoscopy, inserting a camera down his throat to check his oesophagus, which had been burnt by the liquid.

The camera tore his oesophagus and his lungs filled with fluid and air.

Despite this, doctors were satisfied with his progress and he was even able to watch television with his brother and take exercise.

But two weeks ago he contracted MRSA - full name methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - on the skin and the other complications allowed the superbug to spread to his lungs. He also has a chest infection.

His brother said: "We are obviously angry. We thought he was getting better but the infections are too big a battle for him.

"It's so sad. This is a man who is 35. He has learning difficulties but he has a girlfriend and his own flat."

Family and friends remain bitter over the poisoning incident but are placing no blame on the hospital.

The victim's brother said: "The staff have been fantastic, the nurses especially."

Another student from the day centre remains in hospital recovering from an operation following the incident.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating and has already warned the day centre, operated by East Sussex County Council, over its handling of hazardous chemicals.

The executive served an improvement notice on the centre on December 17, noting it had twice breached the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as well as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.

The notice said the centre was carrying out work that could leave service users exposed to the corrosive chemical sodium hydroxide.

A proper risk assessment had not been carried out and the day centre had failed to look at ways of minimising the risk posed by the chemicals.

Safety inspectors visited the centre on January 17 and were happy the notice had been complied with.

If the man dies, the police will take over the responsibility of looking into the events surrounding his hospitalisation as part of a criminal investigation.