A Dundee student suffered a fractured skull and a triple-bleed to the brain after being attacked following Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Conor Mockler, 22, has missed out on a job promotion and been left without a source of income after the unprovoked attack on Lochee High Street last Sunday.
Conor, who studies psychology at Dundee University, said: “My friends and I left Camperdown and decided to walk because the buses were full.
“We got to Lochee and I decided to go into a chippy and grab some chocolate bars.
“We walked along and this couple came towards us. My friend wasn’t wearing his shoes and the guy made a comment and they started having a laugh.
“He then completely switched and all I can remember saying is “we don’t want to fight, leave us alone”.
“He came up to me and started fake punching me and I was thinking that he wasn’t going to hit me, then he punched me straight in the face and from it I was knocked unconscious.
“I fell back and didn’t break my fall, I hit my head off the kerb.
“Straight after that he went for my friend who was left with bruises and a black eye. I was bleeding out from my head. The couple then walked away.”
Nurses couldn’t find a pulse
Conor continued: “I was unconscious for around five to six minutes.
“Two of my friends are student nurses and there were two staff nurses who stopped and they said I had no pulse.
“When the ambulance came I woke up and vomited everywhere due to the head trauma.
“I can’t remember any of that, I can only remember waking up in hospital.
“No one really explained what had happened until I got to the neurology high dependency unit who explained the extent of my injuries.
“I was there for two days and they were happy that I showed no signs of decline.”
Big Weekend attacks could be linked
Police announced earlier in the week that three attacks after the event’s conclusion, including Conor and his friend’s, may be linked.
Officers are investigating the attacks as fans left Camperdown Park on Sunday night, after Lewis Capaldi had brought the event to a close.
The Courier reported on Thursday how a woman claimed to have suffered a broken jaw after being set upon as she left the park.
Conor is now back in Ireland to recover from his injuries.
He said: “I travelled to Dublin to stay with family because I’m not allowed to live unsupervised due to a risk of seizures or other signs of decline.
“My head is constantly pounding and I’m struggling to walk. I’m even finding the basics difficult.
“They are concerned about the fracturing and the haemorrhaging of the brain. I have to speak with occupational therapists in case I can remember any flash backs.”
Chances of promotion lowered
Conor works at the Afton Way Starbucks branch and was set for a promotion.
He said: “I was meant to be training to become a supervisor and that’s now been taken away from me.
“It’s likely that I won’t get that again for the foreseeable future, meaning a loss of income and quality of life. It’s crazy how one punch can do that.”
Discussing recovery time, Conor said: “It’s up in the air just now.
“The skull fracture will take time to heal itself.
“They have to monitor the brain bleeds to see there’s no decline. I’m struggling to walk just now.
“It could take some time and I’m not allowed to fly for six to 12 months in case the drop in air pressure affects the stitching and hematomas.”
He added: “I’d like to sit in a room with him and explain what has happened to me and how it has affected me.
“He could go to jail for a couple of years, come out and see me again in Dundee and it could happen again.
“It could have been a lot worse but I want him caught.”
Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing.
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