Beaten up and left for dead near tram tracks

CARL JOHNSON . . . attacked in Dale Street, Rochdale.

A MAN was left for dead following a vicious attack which saw him suffer a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

Carl Johnson (25) was set upon four assailants in Rochdale Town Centre, and was found badly injured by paramedics at 1.50am on Sunday, August 14, who rushed him to hospital.

Carl, originally from the Salem area of Oldham, had recently moved to Rochdale and had rung his brother Mark on Saturday evening saying that he wanted to go to the Rochdale Feel Good Festival. His family believe he went into the town centre, but later went to a pub.

Police believe that he was attacked by three men and a woman as he walked home. They knocked him to the floor before punching and kicking him as he lay defenceless on the ground.

The attackers are said to have fled from Drake Street in the direction of Manchester Road. Meanwhile Carl was left with his head dangerously close to the tram tracks.

Carl was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital before being transferred to a specialist brain injury unit at Salford Royal Hospital.

As well as a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain, he suffered a broken jaw, hand and ribs.

His recovery is going well and he has since returned home with his mother Lynn Johnson, who is caring for him.

Carl studied at Oldham Sixth Form College before going to university in Carlisle to study sociology and criminology.

While there have been suggestions it was a hate attack, police are not treating it as such.

His mother, Lynn Johnson, said: "He's out of hospital and he's back home now. He's doing quite well. I am pleased with his progress.

"He has been very lucky, he could have died. They left him with his head next to the tram tracks.

"Carl is the sweetest person, I can't imagine why anybody would attack him. It is the phone call that no mother wants to get, saying your son has brain injuries, how quickly can you get here? It is devastating.

She said: "To punch someone to the ground is one thing, but then to punch and kick him while he is defenceless is terrible and you just don't want it to happen to somebody else."

She added: "We would like to thank everyone involved so far, especially medical staff at Royal Oldham Hospital A&E and Salford Royal, continued thanks to Rochdale police who I'm confident will catch the assailants.

"I just hope they are apprehended soon so no one else has to go through such a traumatic experience. This could have been anyone's son, husband, partner and next time it could be a fatality."

Det Cons Craig Wallace, of GMP's Rochdale borough, said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack on an innocent man who has been left with serious injuries."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 272 of August 13, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Carl's brother, Mark, who believes Carl was targeted because he is gay, has also set up a gofundme page with all money raised to go to an LGBTQ charity as well as the Brain Injury ward at Salford Royal Hospital. Visit gofundme.com/unprovoked-leaves-lgbtq-m-for-dead.