NHS worker from Bristol who had car driven at him in racist attack will need plastic surgery

Racist Attack Southmead
A car deliberately drove into the 21-year-old NHS worker in a racist attack.

  • THE FOLLOWING REPORT CONTAINS A GRAPHIC IMAGE OF THE VICTIM'S INJURIES WHICH YOU MAY FIND UPSETTING

A 21-year-old NHS worker from Bristol who was the victim of a racially aggravated assault in which a car was driven deliberately at him says he will need plastic surgery and expects his recovery to take six months.

He'd just left work at Southmead Hospital on Wednesday 22 July when he was attacked. Two men, who also shouted racist abuse at him, ran off from the vehicle afterwards.

The victim - a well known musician who performs under the name K-Dogg - was left with a broken leg, nose and cheekbone. He will need plastic surgery for serious facial and leg injuries.

The racist attack took place on Wednesday 22 July in the afternoon.

In a statement released on 28 July he said: "I have six months recovery ahead of me, minimum. I have a broken leg, nose and cheekbone, will need plastic surgery to my face and leg and am walking on crutches.

"I don't want this to happen to anyone else, I want people to be aware.

"This has affected me proper - mentally as well as physically. I don't feel safe to walk outside and I can't play football, record my music, go to the gym or even sleep - I have to try to sleep sitting up.

"I really want to thank all the people who were there to help me - the people who were there when it happened, colleagues at the NHS for their love and support, the witnesses who have come forward and SARI as well as the police for their hard work.

"I do want to ask the public and the media to respect our privacy as a family because this is a really difficult time. We'd ask that any contact is made through SARI.

"We will bounce back as a family, this will make us stronger. We won't let the haters win."

The victim will need plastic surgery and six months of recovery.

The injured man has been recording music since 2017 and was due to perform at this year's cancelled St Paul's Carnival.

The attack took place in Monks Park Avenue, Southmead, on July 22nd at 4.30pm.

The road was closed while collision investigators examined the scene and the vehicle was recovered. Officers have now interviewed the victim and carried out house-to-house enquiries and are still in the process of taking more than a dozen witness statements.They have also trawled for CCTV and appealed for dashcam footage. Their priorities are to support the victim and to secure the evidence needed for a successful prosecution.

The victim was in Southmead when he was struck by the car.

 Neighbourhood Inspector Lorna Dallimore said: “This is a shocking incident in which a vehicle was deliberately driven at the victim and racist language used following the collision.

"I understand and share the concerns people have about this incident. We're talking with community leaders, the local authority and SARI but we have no evidence to suggest there is a wider risk to the public. Incidents like this are thankfully very unusual and Horfield and Southmead are diverse and welcoming areas.

"We are very grateful to everyone who has been in touch with information so far. We're working hard and progressing some positive lines of enquiry as a matter of urgency."

Staff at Southmead Hospital said they were horrified by the attack.

Andrea Young, Chief Executive at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “We are incredibly saddened that a member of our staff at Southmead Hospital was the victim of a hit and run last week.

 “The police believe this to have been a racially aggravated attack and we are horrified that this is something that has happened to one of our friends and colleague.

 “Racism, in any form, has no place in our society and that an attack such as this can happen is shocking.

 “We have been speaking with the family to make sure the individual is OK and being well looked after and are supporting the police in any way we can with their investigations.

 “We would encourage anyone with information to come forwards and share that with the police.”

Police want to hear from anyone with information which could help who has not yet come forward.

If you saw a dark blue Honda Accord being driven in the area at around that time or have any CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident or the vehicle just beforehand, get in touch through www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact or call 101 quoting reference 5220163308.