American student in Fremantle, Perth, victim of rock attack
American student in Perth suffers horrific facial injuries after teens commit a cowardly attack on a moped
- American student in Perth hit on the head with a stone
- Thieves on a scooter had tried to steal his backpack
An American student studying in Australia has suffered shocking facial injuries after being hit on the head with a rock by thieves on a scooter.
York Danielson, 32, from Seattle, who lives in Fremantle in south Perth, was targeted by “two black-clad men” who tried to take his backpack as he drove home on Sunday.
Mr. Danielson managed to outrun them on his bike during a thrilling three-block chase, but when he stopped to warn a neighbor, thinking he had lost them, the pair whizzed past and pelted him with the heavy limestone block.
After spending 48 hours in hospital, Mr Danielson was released on Tuesday but awaits a lengthy recovery. Photos of his swollen face show the extent of his injuries.
“I feel pretty rough to be honest. They can’t have surgery until the swelling has subsided,” Danielson told Daily Mail Australia.
“I have a lot of broken bones in my face and broken teeth.”
York Danielson was hit in the head by a rock thrown on a scooter by thieves
He suffered facial fractures and broken teeth and has to undergo a series of surgeries
The limestone block hit him ‘right in the face’ and caused him to pass out and spend 48 hours in hospital
He is booked for his first follow up facial and dental surgeries next week.
Despite the big blow to his face, he still remembers exactly what happened.
“It was insane…I stopped to talk to a neighbor about pursuit,” said Mr. Danielson.
‘Before I could barely utter a word, they (the thieves) flew by on the scooter and threw a rock at my head!
“Luckily my neighbor was there to help me, otherwise I might not have survived.”
He passed out after the rock hit him directly in the face and vomited as a side effect of his concussion.
He now has to focus not only on his rehabilitation, but also on how to keep his head above water financially.
“Because I’m a foreign student, I don’t have access to Medicare and I only have insurance that pays very little,” he said.
a GoFundMe as set up to help with medical bills.
The Seattle native is in Fremantle in Perth studying to become a teacher
He said despite the incident that he still loves the city but is concerned about the cost of medical bills
Despite the ordeal, he remains cheerful and insists he will have a great story to tell his students.
“I’m trying to be positive and smile through it,” Danielson said.
‘Hopefully I can teach again as soon as possible… I still love this city.
Detectives are now investigating the sickening attack.
“They (police) apparently went to the scene with a fine comb.”
“But they’re still on the loose, they were dressed all in black on an unregistered moped, that’s why they’re having trouble finding them.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.