Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Horror of one punch attack victim in Oz
Injuries ‘not taken seriously’
A MAN who suffered life-changing injuries in a one-punch attack has claimed his condition was not taken seriously enough by authorities.
Michael Hyndman, 24, was celebrating New Year in Sydney when he was struck. He hit his head, causing bleeding to the brain, and was placed into a coma.
Doctors had to remove part of his skull and the Belfast man spent weeks in hospital recovering. He also had to learn to walk and talk again.
Two people received 18-month suspended sentences for affray.
Michael said yesterday: “I believe my injuries were not taken into consideration when prosecuting them. It was a generic sentence no matter what injuries were sustained.
“It is disappointing. I just feel like if I was an Australian citizen they would take it more seriously but I am just a backpacker from another country.”
The quantity surveyor, who moved to Sydney last September with his fiancee Clar to begin a new job, said his injuries had left him unable to play contact sports or go to the gym. The incident also made him anxious about going on a night out.
He added: “I am afraid of things falling on my head or being bumped into, things that people normally do.”
Michael was flown home to Belfast at the end of April following a successful Gofundme appeal.
In a message, he told those who had supported him: “In addition to expressing my sincere gratitude I also want to take this opportunity to raise awareness. To make sure people fully understand the consequences of throwing just one punch. “It was just one punch that started this nightmare 105 days ago and almost cost me my life. It was just one punch that not only put an abrupt end to our New Year celebrations but has completely overshadowed what was to be ‘our new and exciting chapter’ in our life.
“Thankfully I am here to tell the tale and I hope that by sharing my story, people will realise the dangers involved.
“Life is too precious.”
The New South Wales Office of the DPP was not available for comment.
I just feel if I was an Australian citizen they’d take it more seriously
MICHAEL HYNDMAN BELFAST YESTERDAY