Family of young man left in coma after a single punch are fighting hospital trust to stop doctors withdrawing his life support
- The 20-year-old has been fighting for his life since last Sunday’s assault
The mother of a young man who suffered severe head injuries after being punched was last night battling with doctors to stop them withdrawing his life support.
Samantha Johnson, 46, said she was prepared to go to court to prevent medics at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South-West London, from turning off the ventilator keeping her son Andy alive.
The 20-year-old has been fighting for his life since last Sunday when he was assaulted near a shopping complex in Colliers Wood.
His family say a man approached him from behind and punched him once in the head.
Andy, a roofer, was resuscitated at the scene and was taken to St George’s, where his family say he was able to breathe for himself for two hours last Monday.
Samantha Johnson, 46, said she was prepared to go to court to prevent medics at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South-West London, from turning off the ventilator keeping her son Andy alive
The 20-year-old has been fighting for his life since last Sunday when he was assaulted near a shopping complex in Colliers Wood
His condition, however, worsened, and doctors this weekend said they wanted to carry out a ‘brain stem test’. His family say that if he fails to respond, the hospital will withdraw life-sustaining treatment.
Speaking to the MoS last night, Ms Johnson said: ‘They told us they were going to give us until Monday and then talk to us again.
‘But another doctor is now telling us that they want to go ahead with the test today.’
At 2pm yesterday senior doctors were handed a legal letter that demanded the hospital does not carry out the test without ‘attempting mediation’ with the family.
The Met Police said officers were ‘called to reports of a fight’ in Colliers Wood, after 8pm last Sunday when a 43-year-old and a 47-year-old man were arrested.
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for comment.
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