23 June 10
A GOOD Samaritan has permanently lost the sight in his eye after being severely beaten as he helped a teenager who was being bashed by a gang of youths in Hornsby on Friday night.
Chris Ashbolt, 28, is now lying in Royal North Shore Hospital with a fractured collarbone, nose, finger and complete paralysis in the left side of his face. He is awaiting a third operation on his left eye to improve its appearance but the sight will never return.
Despite all of this Mr Ashbolt said he would do the same thing all over again and would not ask that his attackers be charged.
“I would say to someone else if you come across this situation, do what I did, because angels will protect you,” he said. “I’m still alive, I’m still functional.”
Mr Ashbolt and a friend were heading out for their usual Friday night kick of a ball in a local park around 10pm when they came across a young man surrounded by a group of between 10 and 15 men near the intersection of Albert and Linda streets.
“These two guys were holding him against a car and hitting and pushing him and one had his hand around his throat,” Mr Ashbolt said. “I just ran straight in and put myself between them and the kid and someone knocked me on the head from behind. I remember seeing the concrete coming.”
While his friend ran to call police Mr Ashbolt was kicked several times. He has been told that a witness found him, took him home and that he said he felt okay.
Mr Ashbolt has no memory of anything that happened until 1.40am when he woke up in excruiating pain and called 000. He was taken to Hornsby Hospital and transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital due to the seriousness of his injuries.
When speaking to the Advocate Mr Ashbolt was amazingly positive, saying how lucky he was to be alive and have sight remaining in one eye. He credits his faith and the support of Waitara Seventh Day Adventist Church and Hornsby Police detectives with helping him get through the ordeal.
“My character has been built out of this,” Mr Ashbolt said. “If I have a say, I wouldn’t want them charged. I just want them to get counselling so they don’t grow up to be adults who do this to their children or their wife.”
The group of men who attacked Mr Ashbolt were described as being of caucasian appearance, wearing “street or skater” type clothing.
Anyone who witnessed the attack should phone police on 9476 9799
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These thugs are still on the streets.
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