Brave Cumbrian Danny Hodgson has marked a year since the shocking attack which left him fighting for his life.
The 26-year-old footballer is continuing his rehabilitation after mkaing a courageous recovery from the one-punch assault last September.
The teenager who attacked Danny in Perth, Australia, is serving a three year and eight month sentence in juvenile detention.
The attack left the former Carlisle United youth footballer in intensive care for 86 days with severe brain injuries.
He astounded medics with his brave recovery but has had to re-learn basic functions due to the seriousness of his injuries.
Danny’s partner Jessica Pollock, in a poignant post on Facebook, reflected on the last 12 months.
“Exactly this time one year ago, I spoke to Danny for the last time for a long time,” she said.
“Waking up to a call he was in emergency and then watching him go through the most painful traumatic 86 days critical in ICU surviving death multiple times, terrified he wouldn’t make it out of there.
“One year later he’s tucked up in bed right by my side. Listening to him fast asleep is the most content, satisfying feeling to know he’s safe, his heart is beating, he’s breathing and getting well-needed rest for his brain to heal.”
Danny and Jessica have since spoken out in calls for improvements to the justice system and compensation for victims of such attacks.
“The attack I suffered has left me disabled for the rest of my life, so I have to take things like seizures in my stride," the west Cumbrian said, as reported by Perth Now.
“But it is so frustrating to know that my attacker should never have been on the streets and I have been let down by the justice system.”
Danny's plight led to major fundraising initiatives, whilst attracting the support of football stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Dean Henderson.
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