A gay man is
facing a lifetime of blindness in one eye after an attack and robbery outside a
gay club in London.
Lewis Davis, a
37-year-old marketing assistant for luxury beauty brands, was out with two
friends celebrating after Pride in London on Saturday night (8 July).
Arriving into
Soho at 8.30pm, the three friends realized the main gay area was too busy to go
out. And when they had gone to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the queue was too
long.
So the three
friends decided to go to Fire, a gay club in Vauxhall, South London, early.
All Davis can
remember is dancing, saying goodbye to a female friend, and then nothing else.
His memory is nearly completely gone from that night.
The next day he
woke up in St Thomas Hospital in Waterloo, wrapped in bandages.
‘I’m
devastated,’ he told Gay Star News from his hospital bed.
‘We don’t know
anything about what happened. All I know is I went clubbing and I woke up with
no vision in my eye.’
Some personal
items, like his phone and wallet, were missing. When he woke up, doctors were
asking him for the phone number of a member of his family.
‘I was a bit
shell-shocked,’ he said. ‘No one had been contacted. I managed to give my mum’s
telephone number. She then rushed to hospital.
‘I was then in
surgery for four hours while they tried to fix my eye…I don’t really remember
that at all.’
Attack victim:
‘I may never see out of that eye again.’
While the
doctors did what they could, Davis was told his left eye had suffered
irreparable lifelong damage. It is likely he will never be able to see out of
that eye again.
‘You don’t
expect to hear that ever,’ Davis added, who has his 38th birthday next week.
‘I’m just trying to get used to it. I’m a strong character and very optimistic.
‘I just don’t
believe I’m never going to see out of that eye again.’
There was a
silver lining. As Davis’ eyes are still connected to each other, they can look
the same way. Cosmetic surgery will reduce as much of the damage as possible.
Fire is
providing police with their CCTV footage to help catch Davis’ attacker. A
friend of Davis told GSN that officers have said it is likely he was hit with a
blunt instrument. It is apparent he was kicked in the head.
Police are also
reportedly looking into the possibility Davis’ drink was spiked.
‘My life is
changed forever…[but] I feel blessed,’ Davis said, resolutely. ‘A lot of people
have come to visit me, more than I’m technically allowed. It was almost a party
here last night.
‘A friend has
also set up a Go
Fund Me page.’
He added: ‘I
just wish I knew more about what happened to me. I’m very confused right now.’
Police
investigating
Julie Lyons,
the investigating London Metropolitan Police officer, said they are making
inquiries. They cannot even guarantee whether it was an assault or it was a
fall.
Detective
Constable Julies Lyons, of Lambeth CID, said: ‘We are desperate to find out how
this man received this terrible injury. We have made enquiries at the nightclub
and we believe the injuries did not happen there.
‘The victim has
suffered a terrible trauma to one of his eyes and and I would appeal to anyone
who who might be able assist to call police. At this time we have not be able
to find out how and where he was hurt, or even how he got to hospital, and your
call may be vital in helping us understand what happened.’
Officers would
like to speak with anyone who saw the victim.
Davis was wearing black jeans, a
black t-shirt with flowers on the sleeve, and a black hat. He was carrying a
navy blue bowling-style bag.
Any witnesses,
or anyone with any information, is asked to call officers at Lambeth via 101 or
contact via Twitter @MetCC.
To give
information anonymously contact Crimestoppers.
