12 August 2023 , 15:10
720
0
A family have issued a heart-wrenching update nearly two years on since their son lost half of his skull following a one-punch attack in broad daylight.
Jamie Kelly, 41, was left with life-threatening injuries after Daniel George Johnson hit him in the head as he stood at a pedestrian crossing in Scarborough. Medics launched a desperate battle to remove the left side of his skull in a bid to stop a severe bleed to his brain. Despite the gruelling surgery, he will likely need specialist care forever.
In a bid to raise awareness of the severity, his family have joined forces with North Yorkshire Police and the charity One Punch UK. Speaking about the tragedy, Brenda said: “On the afternoon of Wednesday 16 September 2021, I received an emotional phone call from Jamie’s dad Michael - my ex-husband - telling me that Jamie had been punched unexpectedly which had caused him to fall and hit his head off the ground resulting in him being taken to Scarborough Hospital.
The incident took place on Ramshill Road (North Yorkshire Police/Facebook)
Jamie was rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery (North Yorkshire Police/Facebook)“I felt completely numb, all I could think was that I was going to lose my boy - this sort of thing is what you hear about happening to other people, which is heart-breaking, but never in a million years do you think it would happen to your family, especially your child.”
Jamie's father Michael Kelly, solely stayed by his side in hospital for the first eight weeks due to Covid restrictions preventing other visitors, reports Independent. Following a life-saving surgery at Hull Royal Infirmary, his mum was eventually reunited with him when he was transferred to York General Hospital High Dependency Unit.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Due to the extent of his injuries, Jamie had to have a tracheotomy and a feeding tube installed and was administered anti-seizure medication. Months later, he was awake but only able to understand basic orders by December.
Two years on from the horrifying attack, Jamie continues his recovery at the Woodlands Neurological Rehabilitation Centre in York. However, he faces extreme day-to-day difficulties such as being unable to stand or walk.
Daniel Johnson was jailed for just over two years (North Yorkshire Police / SWNS)
Doctors had to stop a bleed to his brain (North Yorkshire Police/Facebook)His dad added: "Jamie still cannot get out of bed and into the wheelchair by himself. He still cannot dress or shower himself and go to the toilet himself. It is very hard to accept for Jamie as he is a proud man and desperate for independence. The injury to Jamie’s brain has resulted in his body being racked with severe shakes, so much so that he cannot feed himself without his meal being thrown off the fork or spoon."
Daniel Johnson, 34, was sentenced to two years and five months in prison after he plead guilty to a smaller charge of Section 20 grievous bodily harm at York Crown Court. Brenda explained that the attack continues to be a struggle for Jamie to understand.
She said: "When I look at my son, what I should see, what I want to see, is a strong, fit, happy, independent 41-year-old man. But all I do see, due to a violent punch that Daniel Johnson inflicted on him, is a shell of a man. A man who has to drink from a non-spill sippy cup, who needs help eating because of tremors wrack his entire body. He can’t go to the toilet or shower himself. Does Daniel Johnson realise that his actions alone have ensured my son has life-limiting injuries? Jamie needs justice, I need justice, my family needs justice. One punch - that’s all it took to destroy my boy’s life as he knew it.”