Gang attack Man jumps into river to escape mob who injured friend
POLICE are investigating claims that a gang of six men chased two other men through Bedminster.
One of the victims, who wished only to be known as James, was punched in the eye by a member of the group in an unprovoked attack on Bedminster Parade, while the other jumped into a freezing River Avon to secape.
James says he and his friend fled from the six young men at 11.30pm on Saturday.
James, 28, escaped after running for about three minutes, but his 30-year-old friend was forced to jump in the “freezing” River Avon near Bedminster Bridge Roundabout in order to get away.
“It was a very traumatic experience and I won’t feel safe walking in the East Street area anymore at night,” said James, who did not wish to give his surname.
The two friends were coming back from a night out at Cosies in Portland Square, St Paul’s.
James said: “We missed the bus home and decided to walk instead of waiting for the next one. None of it would have happened if we’d got the bus.
“We were walking past the Old Police Station and there was a group of lads hanging out. We didn’t pay attention to them.
“Suddenly, as we walked past the group, one of the guys punched me really hard to my right eye without any reason.
“I didn’t even know what had happened. I kept walking and I couldn’t see properly. My hands were covered in blood because it was running from my face.”
James says he told the young men he did not want any trouble, but they began running towards him.
Both James and his friend sprinted away, but became separated.
“Two of the men came after me and the rest went after my friend,” said James.
“I ran up to the Bedminster Bridge Roundabout. I had to pass in front of a car and I was almost knocked down.
“One of the guys chasing me looked like he wouldn’t stop. He was so aggressive.”
By the time James reached the Mercure Hotel on Redcliff Hill, he had lost his pursuers.
But he later found out his friend had spent an hour trying to escape from them.
He said: “They were really looking to catch him. He was scared for his life.
“He had to jump into the river near Bedminster Bridge Roundabout. He grabbed the wall from the water, got on the bank and hid.
“My friend stayed there and could hear the men talking. They were using phone lights to see where he had landed.
“He was freezing and could have died, but thankfully they eventually left and he was able to get home safe.”
James says he “panicked” and was not thinking clearly after he lost the men chasing him.
He said: “I walked home and passed where I had been assaulted.
It was a bit silly, but I had lost a grey woollen hat my mum knitted for me.
“It fell off when I was attacked, and I wanted to look for it, but it was gone. One of the guys might have taken it as a trophy.
“My mum said I was crazy to go back looking for it when she found out.”
James suffered a displaced pupil from the punch, blurring his vision and causing pain. He has received medication from Bristol Eye Hospital and expects it to heal in the next few weeks.
He revealed it was the first time he had been attacked in Bristol during the six years he has lived there.
“It’s a traumatic experience to be assaulted out of the blue in your own neighbourhood with such gratuitous violence, and it’s hard to understand the motivations behind such evil,” he said.
“I live in Bedminster, and I do not want to live in fear that something so unfair can happen to me or my loved ones at any time just because these people feel they can get away with it.”
James believes the men were aged from 18 to 22. He described the men as being white.
He said they were wearing hoodies – one of which was red, one yellow and another black.
An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokeswoman confirmed police are investigating the attack.
She said: “A 28-year-old man suffered facial injuries after being punched in an apparently unprovoked attack. He and his 30-yearold friend reported it at about 3am the following morning.
“If you saw the incident or have CCTV or dashcam footage which could help police enquiries get in touch through www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contactor call 101 quoting reference 5220 032 480.
“Alternatively ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never trace your call.”