Good Samaritan fears he could lose eye after rescuing teen from attack
A MAN who tried to stop a teenager being battered in the street may lose an eye after being savagely attacked.
Dad-of-three David Thawley, 47, was out for an evening run when he spotted a 15-year-old boy being chased by two older lads.
When he spotted the yobs hitting the youngster he confronted them, but was attacked by a third man and repeatedly punched and kicked to the ground.
The incident took place in the centre of Cannock, Staffordshire, at 9pm on November 11.
Mr Thawley, a software engineer, now fears he might lose the sight in one eye as a result of the vicious attack.
He said: "The two attackers were 19 or 20 and it looked like it was about to get really violent so I ran over and asked them to stop.
"I was told an argument had started in McDonalds.
"I told them to leave it and that they had made their point. I thought I had diffused the situation but the next thing I know out of nowhere a third man grabbed me from behind.
"He had his arm around my throat and was dragging me back into the railings on the island."
I think it is important to help - I couldn't just run past
After several minutes being beaten on the ground, the thug ran off and Mr Thawley staggered to a nearby leisure centre where he raised the alarm.
He was rushed to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton where doctors warned he may suffer permanent damage to his right eye.
He added: "I was very dazed and confused but I knew the young lad had got away so I knew he was safe.
"I think it is important to help. I couldn't just run past.
"Everything in my vision went really cloudy and I knew then that he had really hurt my eye.
"I would have been stuffed if the minor injuries unit had been closed."
Staffordshire Police are investigating the attack.
