The family of a teenage girl who was left in intensive care after being struck hard and flying through the air have revealed she may never be the same after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
Poppy Owen, 19, was out with friends in Basildon, Essex, when she says her sister was ‘thrown’ and knocked unconscious by a man.
Essex Police confirmed a man has been arrested and has now been bailed until November.
Poppy’s older sister Bobbie-Jo Owen, 23, called the attack “devilish,” as she said: ‘It’s terrifying, the state she’s been left in. We don’t know how this will impact her future, which is just humiliating.’
She added that her sister stopped breathing after the attack and was resuscitated by her colleagues who were also outside The Loft in Southernhay.
Poppy Owen, 18, was enjoying a night out in Basildon, Essex, when she was thrown through the air and knocked unconscious by a man, according to friends
Poppy’s older sister Bobbie-Jo Owen (pictured), 23, called the attack ‘diabolical’, adding: ‘It’s terrifying, the state she’s been left in’
Since the incident in the early morning of August 11, Poppy has been receiving specialist treatment every day, including physiotherapy and speech therapy.
The teenager cannot remember the details of her attack and was unable to speak at all the next day, Bobbie-Jo said.
She explained to The Echo: ‘Poppy is in intensive care and is undergoing regular CT scans to monitor the progress of her brain. She has a bleed in her brain and severe bruising to her brain.
“She’s already getting confused by the way she talks.”
Friends and family sent their best wishes to Bobbie-Jo via social media after she shared her sister’s story.
Leah Eden wrote on Facebook: ‘I am so sorry this happened to her, thinking of you all and sending you all our love. I pray she has a speedy recovery and no permanent damage.’
One of Poppy’s colleagues, Jennifer Dourado, said: ‘I am absolutely devastated by this news. Poppy is so well-liked at work and I wish her a safe and speedy recovery.’
Although the 22-year-old who was arrested has been released on bail, police confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing.
Poppy was knocked unconscious outside The Loft in Southernhay where she was resuscitated until an ambulance arrived
A spokesperson said: “A man has been arrested following an attack in Basildon.
‘On August 11, shortly before 2.10am, we received a report that an 18-year-old woman had been knocked unconscious in Southernhay.
‘A 22-year-old man from Basildon has been arrested on suspicion of grievous assault without intent, grievous assault and common assault.
He has since been released on bail until November 5.
‘If you have any information, CCTV, dashcam or other footage relating to this incident please contact us.’
They added that anyone with information should quote crime reference number 42/122481/24.
MailOnline has contacted The Loft in Basildon for comment.