One punch survivor Danny Hodgson faces separation from family as father’s visa expires
A one punch attack survivor who is struggling in his daily life has been dealt another blow after it emerged his father is being deported from Australia.
Danny Hodgson, who turned 28 last week, suffered a brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull when he was punched by a then 16-year-old boy and hit his head on concrete at Perth train station two years ago.
After seven months of hospital treatment, the young footballer was released from hospital to undergo further rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
He has received care and support from his family, who temporarily moved from their home in Britain to Perth to help Danny and his partner, Jessica Pollock.
But it has been revealed Danny’s father Peter Hodgson may be forced to leave the country as his visa expires on October 19.
Slamming attack survivor Danny Hodgson (pictured left), 28, has been dealt another blow as his father Peter (pictured right) faces deportation when his visa expires next month
Peter said this news was a crushing blow for the Hodgsons and especially for Danny, who requires 24-hour care due to the traumatic injuries he suffered.
Danny still suffers from epileptic seizures and other health complications in his daily life.
“If I wasn’t here with Danny, I don’t know what Jess and Danny’s situation would be like, but it would be disastrous,” he said The Western Australia.
“I need to be with him and he needs me.”
Peter, who has been working more than 60 hours a week to pay his son’s medical bills, has sought to extend his visa or obtain permanent residency on compassionate grounds.
‘This is hanging over our heads and it’s stressing me out, it’s stressing Danny and Jess out. “We shouldn’t be in this position,” he said.
Peter has already contacted Attorney General John Quigley and Federal MP Dr Anne Aly for assistance.
Both Mr Quigley and Dr Aly tried to help the heartbroken father by contacting immigration officials to discuss the case, including Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. But officials have yet to consider Peter’s case.
The latest blow comes a week after it was revealed Danny’s attacker, who is now 19, was again charged with a violent crime after being released from prison early.
Danny (pictured left with partner Jessica Pollock) suffered a brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull when he was punched by a then 16-year-old boy and hit his head on the concrete at Perth train station in 2021
Peter (pictured left with Danny’s mother Nicola Hodgson) has been trying to extend his visa or get permanent residency to stay in Australia to help his son
The teenager was originally sentenced to three years and eight months in juvenile detention for hitting Danny without warning and physically assaulting others.
But he served less than half of that sentence before being released last May.
He was released on strict bail after an investigation by the Supervised Release Review Board, which deals with juvenile offenders.
Danny slammed WA’s justice system after hearing about the news via email.
“To be honest, I’m not shocked at all. It was foreseeable,” he said ABC Radio Perth.
He told how the teenager had repeatedly breached bail in the past and had been on bail seven times before punching Danny in the head.
Danny refused to make a victim impact statement after the latest charge because he felt the state’s justice system didn’t care about victims like him.
“I didn’t do any because they (the justice system) don’t care about me, or they don’t care about the public,” he said.
“They only care about the criminals because that’s how they make their money – because people commit crimes and go to court.”
Danny’s attacker (pictured in the red circle next to Danny just before he pushed him in the head) was charged with a violent crime last week after being released from detention last May
Mr Quigley, who had tried to help Peter with his visa problems, told of his shock at the latest charge and believes the troubled teenager should not have been released back into the community so early.
He said the teenager was “not a child” but a “hardened criminal”, referring to those who are more sympathetic to children who commit crimes.
The attorney general claimed that the teen’s short time in a juvenile detention center “taught him nothing.”
“This is a dangerous, violent young man and he must be dealt with accordingly,” he added.